Rep. Jamie Allard’s Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children’s Bill of Rights passes into law

By SUZANNE DOWNING

June 23, 2026 – A bill championed by Rep. Jamie Allard of Eagle River that establishes a formal Bill of Rights for deaf and hard-of-hearing children has passed the Alaska Legislature and was not vetoed by Gov. Mike Dunleavy. It has passed into law, to take effect in September.

House Bill 39, known as the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children’s Bill of Rights, creates a framework intended to ensure that deaf and hard-of-hearing students receive educational services tailored to their language and communication needs.

The legislation was introduced in 2025 and received broad bipartisan support as it moved through the legislative process. The measure addresses longstanding concerns that deaf and hard-of-hearing students can face barriers to language development, academic achievement, and social interaction when schools do not adequately accommodate their communication needs.

The bill explicitly recognizes the right of deaf and hard-of-hearing children to receive accommodations in their primary language, including both American Sign Language and English. It also affirms the right of parents to choose the communication method and language they believe is most appropriate for their child.

Under HB 39, Individualized Education Programs, or IEPs, must identify a student’s primary language and ensure that instruction is delivered in that language. The legislation also requires that students be taught by qualified professionals who are proficient in the child’s primary language.

In addition, the measure seeks to address social and developmental needs by ensuring students have opportunities to interact with an adequate number of deaf peers of similar age and language ability, as well as deaf adult role models.

Allard said the legislation is designed to help ensure that deaf and hard-of-hearing children have the same opportunity to develop language skills and achieve academic success as their hearing peers.

The bill’s supporters have argued that early language access is critical to educational outcomes and that deaf children should not be deprived of opportunities to communicate effectively in the language that best meets their needs.

The legislation does not mandate a single communication approach. Instead, it places decision-making authority with parents while requiring schools to recognize and support the deaf language choices made for each child.