** This list is a reference to keep an eye out for as they may affect us or not. **
Delaware:
H273, AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 18 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO HEALTH COVERAGE FOR SPEECH THERAPY.
Note: Not sure if the same thing can be used towards LSL services or it is already covered. Medicaid Part C and others do cover it (this comes from IDEA Federal Law I believe). Private insurances apparently don’t explicitly say its covered for those with disabilities – some only for accidents, injuries or illness.
https://legis.delaware.gov//BillDetail/140821
OLD – Resolution H73, Recognizing JUNE 25TH-JULY 1ST, 2023 AS “DEAFBLIND AWARENESS WEEK” (passed/signed on 8/3/23)
https://legiscan.com/DE/drafts/HCR73/2023
SB82 (formerly SS1), AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO IMPROVING COMMUNICATION ASSISTANCE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY AND DISABILITIES. https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=130201
- Partial summary/synopsis: This Act requires certain State programs to provide annual reports to the General Assembly about compliance with federal and State law and regulation that require meaningful access to services for individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP) and effective communication for individuals with disabilities.
- Note: There was a reference about sign language access and named a number of agencies responsible for reporting what services/accessibility was provided PLUS 5 additional agencies to be chosen by DOJ. This is not medically focused but systematically.
Federal:
** Some bills are also in BOTH House and Senate versions. Most came from a ‘Deaf’ search through the expanded list – https://legiscan.com/gaits/search?state=US&keyword=deaf. Some are from last year and passed on to the current ‘congressional/senate’ year, although it seems that Congress (and probably Senate) have 2 years to pass anything before the new term begins. Right now, the 118th Congressional term is from Jan. 3, 2023-2025. Also, all of the bills/resolutions below have progressed only 25% and still are in the introduction stages.
Bills:
| Senate | House | What |
| SB1911 | — | Airline Safety Information and Entertainment Access Act |
| SB2693 | HB2604 | Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act of 2023 |
| SB2984 | HB5813 | Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act of 2023 |
| SB2344
SB1 |
HB11 | A bill to expand Americans’ access to the ballot box and reduce the influence of big money in politics, and for other purposes. (aka: Freedom to Vote Act) |
| — | HB1987 | To provide for a limitation on availability of funds for Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders for fiscal year 2024. |
| SB1070 | HB2421 | Safe Equitable Campus Resources and Education Act of 2023 |
| SB1731 | HB3550 | Safe Interactions Act of 2023 |
| SB2494 | HB4858 | Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act of 2023 (AKA: CVAA 2023) |
| SB2945 | HB5748 | Alice Cogswell and Anne Sullivan Macy Act (Aka: DeafBlind Act/Bill)
https://legiscan.com/US/text/SB2945/id/2843681
A bill to promote and ensure delivery of high-quality special education and related services to children and youth who are blind or visually impaired, deaf, hard of hearing, deafdisabled, or deafblind through instructional methodologies meeting their unique language and learning needs, to enhance accountability for the provision of such services, and for other purposes. |
| SB105 | HB463 | A bill to have education funds follow the student. |
Resolutions:
| Senate | House | What |
| — | HR193 | Expressing support for the goals and ideals of “World Hearing Day”. |
| SR238 | HR513 | Expressing support for recognizing September 20 as National Service Dog Day. |
| — | HR290 | Supporting the goals and ideals of National Deaf History Month. |