Bill
S 7792
The bill protects the rights of individuals with disabilities to communicate using their preferred methods and requires entities to provide reasonable accommodations and supports f
Relates to protecting the communication rights of individuals with disabilities
Status & Procedural History
- Bill No.: S 7792
- Print: 7792B (amended)
- Introduced: May 6, 2025
- Committee: Referred to Disabilities (May 6, 2025); amended and recommitted (May 15, 2025; June 9, 2025).
- Sponsors: Patricia Fahy (primary) with multiple cosponsors (Michelle Hinchey, Robert Jackson, Brad Hoylman‑Sigal, Jeremy Cooney, Jessica Scarcella‑Spanton, Jack M. Martins, Stephen T. Chan, Jessica Ramos, James Skoufis, John Liu, Shelley Mayer, Pete Harckham, Sam Sutton).
- Related/Companion: A.7363 (companion bill)
Note on source material: The full bill text was not provided. This summary is based on the bill title and legislative metadata (Print 7792B). Where the title implies subject matter but the text is unavailable, the summary indicates typical provisions and likely impacts such legislation would address.
Purpose and intent
- To recognize and protect the rights of people with disabilities to communicate using their preferred and effective modes and methods, and to ensure public and private entities do not impede, restrict, or fail to provide reasonable supports for communication access.
Key provisions (as indicated by the bill title and typical legislative practice)
- Recognition of communication rights: Explicitly establishes that individuals with disabilities have the right to communicate using speech, sign, augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices and methods, written communication, interpreters, captioning, and other assistive technologies.
- Prohibition of interference: Bars public entities, service providers, schools, health-care facilities, residential programs, and correctional settings from intentionally or negligently interfering with an individual’s chosen means of communication.
- Reasonable accommodations and services: Requires entities to provide reasonable accommodations and supports (e.g., ASL interpreters, real‑time captioning, AAC devices, communication assistants) unless doing so would constitute an undue burden under applicable law.
- Training and policy requirements: Directs state agencies, schools, and other covered organizations to adopt policies, staff training, and protocols to ensure effective communication access.
- Complaints and enforcement: Establishes or clarifies complaint procedures and remedies (administrative complaints, civil actions, injunctive relief, possible damages or penalties) to enforce communication rights.
- Cross‑sector applicability: Applies across education, health care, social services, employment contexts, and public accommodations (scope subject to bill text).
Who is affected
- Primary beneficiaries: Individuals with disabilities who rely on alternative or supported communication (including people who are Deaf or hard of hearing, DeafBlind, non‑verbal, have speech disabilities, cognitive or developmental disabilities, or temporary communication impairments).
- Duty holders: State and local agencies, public schools, hospitals and healthcare providers, social service programs, residential providers, private businesses providing public accommodations, and correctional facilities.
- Indirectly affected: Interpreters, speech‑language pathologists, AAC vendors, and organizations that provide communication supports.
Potential impacts
- Positive: Improved access to services, greater autonomy for people with disabilities, reduced communication‑related discrimination, and clearer expectations for providers.
- Administrative/cost impacts: Entities may incur costs for training, hiring/interpreting services, AAC devices, and policy updates. Funding, technical assistance, or phased implementation in the bill text would affect the magnitude of these impacts.
- Legal/operational: Increased compliance obligations and potential for administrative or legal claims where access is denied.
Next steps
- Review the full Print 7792B text (and companion A.7363) for precise definitions, covered entities, enforcement mechanisms, timelines, exceptions, and funding provisions. The bill remains in the Disabilities Committee following amendments (Print 7792A → 7792B) as of June 9, 2025.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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