Bill > H730

This bill requires state departments in North Carolina to provide translated versions of their published information in the five most common non-English languages spoken in the state's households. Specifically, the Department of Administration will contract with a certified translation service to translate state service and resource information into these languages, using the most recent U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey data. If "Chinese" is listed as one of the top five languages, information will be translated into Mandarin, and the public can request Cantonese translations. State departments must submit their English-language publications to the Department of Administration for translation and then publish the translated versions in the same format as the original English documents. The bill includes an appropriation of $5,487,767 in recurring funds for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to implement these translation requirements. The bill allows the Department of Administration to potentially convert translation services to permanent state translator positions if deemed cost-effective. While the bill becomes law immediately, the actual translation requirement will begin on January 1, 2027, giving state agencies time to prepare for the new mandate.

Government Affairs

https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/H730