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Regulations update for interpreter licenses: Please find the official regulations published on the Division of State Documents (DSD) website
NEW: The 30-day public comment period from May 16, 2025 - June 16, 2025. as of 5.16.2025. EXTENDED to Monday, June 30, 2025 at 11:59PM. After this period, SBSLI will review your public comments you posted using our form.
SBSLI will have an Open Meeting on Thursday, July 10, 2025 at 7pm to review and discuss public comments received and for any questions or concerns regarding public comments email usherla.deberry@maryland.gov and tanea.brown@maryland.gov The public comment form can be found here - https://forms.gle/zvVnTqpZeyXCUXwM7.

Legislation

Photo of book with Law typed along the spine of book with mallot sitting on book.During the legislative session, the Maryland Governor’s Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing is responsible for monitoring various bills that are introduced in the state legislature and may be of interest to Deaf and hard of hearing Marylanders. The office also ensures that the community remains informed of updates on hearings and votes on pending legislation. While the Governor’s Office does not endorse specific bills, Deaf and hard of hearing Marylanders are encouraged to get involved, be informed, and make their concerns known to their elected officials.

If you wish to learn who your elected officials are, please click “Who Are Your Elected Officials“. Or, copy and paste http://mdelect.net/) and follow the instructions. The election officials identified in the website include both State and Federal elected officials. If you wish to save information for documentation, or further reference, please download this form and fill it out for you to keep.

How Our Laws Are Made

To understand more about the legislative process and how a bill becomes a law, please review How a Bill Becomes Law. The office also has a video series of the legislative process in ASL on Facebook and YouTube.

This flowchart on the Maryland General Assembly may help you understand its structure. It will be helpful to also explore the Maryland General Assembly’s website and learn about the dates of interest for the 2025 session.

2025 Legislative Session

Below are some bills that the office is currently monitoring. To find out the current status of each bill and its scheduled hearings, click on some of the bill’s link (based on info availability) for more information:

  • SB006 Election Law – Polling Place Procedures – Voting by Elderly Voters and Voters With Disabilities (Accessible and Expedited Voting Act of Maryland)

  • SB0085  Braille Flag Memorial Act of 2025

  • SB0069  Access to Telephones – Study

  • SB0223  HB0158 Department of Aging – Social Connections Program – Establishment

  • SB0208 Human Services – Maryland Assistive Technology Program – Establishment

  • SB0185  Maryland Public Ethics Law – State Officials of and Candidates to be State Officials of the Judicial Branch – Conflicts of Interest and Financial Disclosure Statements

  • SB0358 Maryland Deaf Culture Digital Library – Funding and Budget Submission
  • Hb200 Workgroup to Study School Bus Safety (Maryland School Bus Safety Act of
    2025)

  • Hb0246, SB0205 Human Services – Adult Protective Services

  • Hb0251 Maryland Public Ethics Law – Training and Financial Disclosure Requirements– Revisions

  • HB406 State Board of Examiners for Audiologists, Hearing Aid Dispensers, Speech–Language Pathologists, and Music Therapists – Appointment of Members and Quorum

        Further details found here  mgaleg.maryland.gov

        Legislative Bills Monitored 2024

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