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Senate Committee OKs Reporting of Language Justice Bill That Would Fund Multilingual Public‑health Materials
Summary
The committee approved reporting S‑243 (as amended), which contains a $150,000 FY27 appropriation to the Department of Health to fund the Vermont Language Justice Project's multilingual public‑health videos and materials.
The Senate Health & Welfare Committee reviewed and voted to report S‑243, which adds findings about the Vermont Language Justice Project and includes a $150,000 FY27 general‑fund appropriation to the Department of Health.
The new findings cited by the chair note that "the Vermont Language Justice Project's videos fill a critical gap in patient education, particularly for families with limited English proficiency," and that the Project has produced multilingual materials in collaboration with the Department of Health covering COVID‑19, immunizations, mosquito and tick avoidance, and other public‑health topics. The bill text says those materials are produced in "10 to 21 of the languages commonly spoken in Vermont" and notes the project's prior CDC grant ended in January 2025.
Committee discussion acknowledged that appropriations commonly change in the broader budget process and that the $150,000 figure could be altered or removed in appropriations deliberations. Chair and members signaled the bill's language was valuable to preserve even if the dollar amount is later adjusted by the Appropriations Committee.
The committee voted to report the bill (as amended) to the floor for further consideration; senators noted the item could still be changed as the budget advances.
