Committee hears emotional testimony on sign‑language interpreter licensure; bill rolled for more information

Senator Massey presented SB 9‑42 to create a state licensure system and five‑member licensing board for sign‑language interpreters under the Department of Health, with an effective date of July 1, 2026, and limited exceptions. "Licensure provides minimum qualifications, a code of ethics, and a complaint and accountability process," Massey said, explaining the bill’s purpose in health, legal and educational settings.

A deaf advocate, Jade Sims, described a medical case where a deaf‑blind patient was told by an interpreter that a kidney stone was "tiny," when imaging later showed a 13‑millimeter stone that required emergency surgery. Sims said the patient’s kidney function decreased and argued the outcome was the result of misinterpretation: "The patient went home and later found that the kidney stone was actually 13 millimeters...That was an effect of a misinterpretation." Committee members pressed for details about whether the interpreter had a credential and whether licensure would reduce access; Sims said the interpreter was not licensed in Tennessee and that licensure would allow skills screening and accountability without requiring national certification.

Members asked how many interpreters currently work in-state, whether volunteers would be affected, and whether licensure could make interpreters harder to obtain. The sponsor and witnesses said licensure would accept different credential levels and provide reciprocity routes for existing practitioners. Several senators requested additional data on workforce counts, cost, and implementation. With those questions outstanding, the committee voted to roll SB 9‑42 for one week to gather supplemental information.