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Committee examines bill to fund translated emergency videos, asks for more testimony
Summary
The Senate Committee on Government Operations reviewed S.111, a bill requiring the departments of Public Safety and Health to contract for translated emergency information — including video — and to receive funds in FY26. Committee members asked for additional testimony and clarification on scope and federal implications.
Senate Committee on Government Operations Chair Pollard on Thursday, March 27, heard from sponsor Senator Gulick and legislative counsel on S.111, a bill that would require the Vermont Department of Public Safety and the Department of Health to contract with in-state organizations to produce and provide translated material for “critical services,” including recorded and video resources for emergency preparedness.
Supporters told the committee the bill grew from the Vermont Language Assistance Services for Emergency Communications (LASEC) working group's Emergency Communications Language Accessibility Report and aims to ensure non‑English speakers and sign language users can receive usable, accessible emergency information. Senator Gulick said the bill is “short and sweet, but extremely important” and emphasized the need for translated video because some people are not literate in any written language or cannot access text translations.
The bill’s draft defines “critical services” to include information provided in response to an “all‑hazard event” and information from state agencies that affects an individual’s legal rights, privileges, or duties; the committee heard this definition could be broad (the phrase “all‑hazard event” is defined in 20 VSA section 2). Legislative counsel Tucker Anderson explained that the operative requirement is in subsection (b), which would require the Department of Public Safety and the Department of Health to “establish and maintain contracts with organizations within the state to provide translated material … for any critical services provided by the state agency.” Anderson also read the bill’s proposed FY26 appropriations: $125,000 for the Department of Public Safety and $125,000 for the Department of Health to produce informational media and advertising about the availability of translated material for critical services.
Committee members raised questions about the scope and timing of materials — whether the bill is limited to preparedness and general guidance or extends to real‑time emergency alerts — and about any potential conflict with federal grant or regulatory conditions. Anderson and other counsel told the committee they were not aware of a federal prohibition on translated material but said counsel would check whether executive orders or grant conditions could affect the program.
No formal vote was taken. The committee agreed to take additional testimony next week and flagged the need for further drafting and clarification on definitions, agency roles, and the interplay with federal funding rules.
The bill as introduced also specifies that “translated material” includes any written or recorded information translated for individuals who do not speak English; the recorded/ video element was emphasized in committee discussion as important for people without literacy in a written language.
Committee members did not adopt final language at Thursday’s hearing; staff identified the bill’s operative contracting requirement, the FY26 line items, and the recording/video definition as the key elements for follow‑up.
