The Arizona Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously approved legislation Friday that protects the rights of private businesses by declaring that they are not required to provide interpretation services in languages other than English. As amended, S.B. 1199 frees business owners from the threat of lawsuits because the business failed to provide “trained and competent bilingual” assistance for non-English speaking customers.

Legislators in Wisconsin have approved a state budget bill that would require private schools with more than 10 percent limited-English proficient students to teach students in a bilingual-bicultural fashion, despite the fact that some schools have successful English-immersion programs in place.