CO HB1153

Requires the Department of Personnel, partnering with the Office of New Americans, to assess the readiness of principal state departments to meet statewide language access standards for the nearly 900,000 Coloradans who speak a language other than English

Assessment must identify department needs for training and guidance, existing language access materials and plans, current language services contracts and expenditures, and public-facing responsibilities involving linguistically diverse individuals

Report with findings and recommendations due by December 31, 2026, including an executive summary available in English and the five most commonly spoken languages (Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, German, Russian)

Interim Language Access Working Group will dissolve by December 31, 2026, transitioning to a permanent Community of Practice limited to 20 participants including linguistically diverse community members and state agency representatives

Appropriates $100,000 from the general fund for FY 2025-26 to the Colorado Equity Office for personal services to implement the assessment