BILL · 2019–20 SESSION

HB 1623: Public schools/sign language

Concerning sign language interpreting in public schools.

Summary

Directs the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to award grants to qualifying institutions of higher education to establish programs of study that prepare students to become educational interpreters and sign language interpreters in other employment sectors.
Directs the OSPI to develop or expand a mentoring program for persons employed as educational interpreters in public schools.
Directs the Washington State Center for Childhood Deafness and the OSPI to examine options for developing, expanding, supporting, and coordinating regionally delivered educational services for children who are deaf or hard of hearing, and to provide a report on their examination by November 15, 2020.

From the House Bill Report (HB 1623), written by the Legislature's nonpartisan staff. Read the full report ↗

Did not pass Did not pass · died in committee

AN ACT Relating to improving the availability and quality of sign language interpreting provided to public school students and other persons;

No recorded floor votes. This measure never reached a floor vote.

Bill numbers restart every two years, so the same number is a different bill in each session.

HB 1623 (2025–26) Tips/credit card fees · Did not pass · stalled on the House floor
HB 1623 (2023–24) Regional economic dev. · Did not pass · died in committee
HB 1623 (2021–22) Power supply inadequacy · Vetoed by the Governor
HB 1623 (2017–18) Automated secondhand kiosks · Enacted · Chapter 169, Laws of 2017
HB 1623 (2015–16) Railroad funding · Did not pass · died in committee
HB 1623 (2013–14) Medical specialty techs · Did not pass · died in committee
HB 1623 (2011–12) Felony DUI/prior offenses · Did not pass · died in committee
HB 1623 (2009–10) Absentee ballots · Did not pass · died in committee