Bill Summary: HF760 - Updating Outdated Disability Terminology

• Replaces outdated and stigmatizing language throughout Minnesota statutes with person-first and identity-affirming terminology for people with disabilities.

• Changes terms like "hearing impaired" to "people who are deaf, deafblind, and hard-of-hearing," "mentally ill" to "has a mental illness," and "crippled" to "with special health care needs."

• Updates terminology in over 30 Minnesota statutes covering education, human services, transportation, telecommunications, political participation, and law enforcement.

• Includes revisor's instructions for updating Minnesota Rules to replace outdated disability terminology with preferred language (e.g., "wheelchair bound" to "using a wheelchair," "communication-impaired" to "person with a communication disability").

• Directs that all changes be implemented within limits of available appropriations.