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Bill

SB 303

Relating to the appointment of spoken language interpreters for certain court proceedings.

89th Legislature (2025) Introduced by Charles Perry

SB 303 establishes procedures for Texas courts to appoint qualified spoken language interpreters in specified court proceedings, expanding access to judicial proceedings for non-English speakers and deaf/hard-of-hearing individuals.

Referred to State Affairs
#courts--personnel(i0155)
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Bill Summary · SB 303

Legislative bill overview

SB 303 modifies Texas law regarding the appointment and use of spoken language interpreters in court proceedings. The bill appears to establish or clarify procedures for how courts appoint interpreters for defendants, witnesses, or other parties who are deaf, hard of hearing, or speak languages other than English.

Why is this important

Access to qualified interpreters is fundamental to ensuring equal access to justice and fair trial rights for non-English speakers and individuals with hearing disabilities. Without clear appointment procedures and standards, courts may struggle with interpreter availability, quality, and cost allocation—potentially disadvantaging vulnerable populations in legal proceedings.

Potential points of contention

  • Budgetary impact: Establishing mandatory interpreter appointment procedures could increase court system costs, raising questions about who bears these expenses (courts, counties, or state)
  • Interpreter qualifications and certification: The bill may create new certification or vetting requirements that could limit interpreter availability in rural areas or less common languages
  • Scope of proceedings: Ambiguity over which types of proceedings require interpreters (criminal, civil, administrative, etc.) and whether the bill expands or restricts current practice

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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