Bill > HB2197

This bill designates English as the official language of Washington state, with the intent of honoring the language of the nation's founding generations and promoting unity and cross-cultural understanding. The bill requires that all official public records and meetings be conducted in English, though it does not completely prohibit the use of other languages. State agencies and political subdivisions are not required to provide documents in languages other than English, except where required by state or federal law, but they may choose to publish documents in multiple languages as long as an English version is also provided. The bill explicitly protects citizens' constitutional rights to use language in private activities and prevents government restrictions on language usage in the private sector. Additionally, the bill encourages institutions of higher education and community colleges to offer English language classes and training for non-native speakers, and to collaborate with community organizations to help make these resources accessible. The legislation includes a severability clause, which means that if any part of the act is found to be invalid, the rest of the act remains in effect.