(CHICAGO) – MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund) partnered with Illinois state lawmakers to enact a law requiring interpretive assistance for people with limited English proficiency who have low incomes or who represent themselves in state administrative hearings.
House Bill 5172 was signed into law by Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Friday. The law ensures minimum procedures for providing interpreter services in state administrative hearings for agencies related to taxes, reinstatement of driving privileges, enforcing rights against wage theft and discrimination, and other state government issues. Providing adequate and competent language assistance expands access to state agencies for people who speak little or no English and protects their ability to fully participate in these proceedings.
“Equal justice requires recognizing the language assistance that many need to protect themselves and to vindicate critical rights,” said Thomas A. Saenz, MALDEF president and general counsel. “At a time of increased hostility in some quarters to anyone who deviates from the stereotypical American, Illinois has taken a key step, with this new law, toward ensuring increased integration of all who live here and contribute to our nation’s progress.”
State Senator Karina Villa (D.-West Chicago) and State Representative Theresa Mah (D.-Chicago) sponsored the bill. MALDEF led the advocacy to pass the bill in the General Assembly.
“People often find themselves in the state administrative hearings process when their rights have been violated or a benefit or privilege has been denied—in other words, when something has gone wrong and they’re looking for justice,” said Martín Klein, MALDEF legislative attorney. “State administrative hearings are legal proceedings that can be complicated for the average person and even more challenging to navigate for those that have a limited ability to speak English. This law is a major step toward ensuring that a person’s limited ability to speak English will not be a barrier to access justice in Illinois.”
The law will take effect July 1, 2025.