LANGUAGE EQUITY & ACCESS ACT House SponsorsRep. Dagmara Avelar and Elizabeth "Lisa" Hernandez 1/7/2025HouseSession Sine Die New Act Creates the Language Equity and Access Act. Creates the Division of Language Equity and Access within the Governor's Office of New Americans to lead statewide efforts in the implementation of the State's language equity and access policy for limited English proficient persons and to ensure meaningful access to information, services, programs, and activities offered by State agencies and other covered entities, including departments, offices, commissions, boards, or other agencies, for limited English proficient persons. Provides that the Division shall provide expertise and monitor implementation of the Act. Provides that the Division shall work with State agencies and covered entities and use other available State resources, such as the Office of New Americans, the Office of Equity, and the Department of Human Services Bureau of Refugee and Immigrant Services, to ensure that the State compiles available U.S. Census data on languages used across the State, including the identification of geographic patterns and trend data. Provides that each State agency and covered entity shall prepare a language access plan that will describe its limited English proficient service population, the policy and programmatic actions it will implement and the metrics that will be used to measure compliance. Provides that the Division will prepare and submit a Language Equity and Access Compliance Report to the General Assembly by January 1, 2026 and annually thereafter. Provides that the Governor's Office shall provide administrative and other support to the Governor's Office of New Americans and its Division of Language Equity and Access. Defines terms. Effective July 1, 2025. 2/9/2024HouseFiled with the Clerk by Rep. Dagmara Avelar 2/9/2024HouseFirst Reading 2/9/2024HouseReferred to Rules Committee 2/28/2024HouseAssigned to Immigration & Human Rights Committee 3/21/2024HouseDo Pass / Short Debate Immigration & Human Rights Committee; 007-003-000 3/22/2024HousePlaced on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate 4/17/2024HouseSecond Reading - Short Debate 4/17/2024HouseHeld on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate 4/19/2024HouseRule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee 5/10/2024HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Elizabeth "Lisa" Hernandez 1/7/2025HouseSession Sine Die