Throughout 2025 and early 2026, a flurry of language access legislation has been proposed in the U.S. after President Trump enacted Executive Order (EO) 14224, declaring English the official language of the United States, and revoking EO 13166, which had previously required federal agencies to provide language access for members of the public with limited English proficiency (LEP).
Most of the proposed bills aim to codify mandates for language access into law or unify and standardize guidelines for language services that are already provided under existing mandates.
On April 30, 2026, Representative Judy Chu introduced a somewhat different language access bill before the House of Representatives aimed at creating a new body within the federal government. The bill is entitled “to establish the Language Access Board, and for other purposes,” and is also known as the “Language Access Board Act of 2026” (H.R. 8604).
As the name suggests, the bill would create an independent “Language Access Board” within the federal government. The bill would also mandate all federal agencies to “ensure” that LEP communities have access to all public-facing resources and materials related to their programs or initiatives. Specifically, they would have to ensure that LEP access is “comparable” to the level of access given to fluent English speakers.
If the bill passes, it would be the Language Access Board’s responsibility to verify that this language access is being offered and to create standards for exactly how it should be provided.
The proposed Board would achieve this in several ways. First, they would have two years from the date the bill is enacted to develop specific language access standards for federal agencies. These standards would be developed after consultation with relevant heads of federal agencies and non-government organizations.
The published standards would then be reviewed and amended on a five-year cycle to address new technological advances, changes to federal programs or initiatives, and changes in the demographics of LEP communities or in the “language access needs of such individuals and communities.”
Federal agencies would have six months from the time the standards are published to incorporate them into their internal language access policies. The same timeframe would be given when new amendments are added to the standards.
However, the bill would also create a framework for federal agencies to apply for a waiver if particular language access requirements cause an “undue burden.” Such waivers would only stay in place for two years once approved.
At the same time, the board would have the power to hold public hearings and issue orders of compliance requiring federal agencies to adhere to their language access standards. This would include the executive director of the Board having the power to bring a “civil action” against noncompliant agencies in U.S. district courts.
At the time of writing, the bill has been referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Slator (5/21/26) By Brandon Loch