Sign Language Bill
The Sign Language Bill was introduced to the Assembly by the Minister for Communities, Gordon Lyons, on Monday 10 February 2025. The Bill received Royal Assent (became law) on 9 July 2026 and is now known as the Sign Language Act.
All stages of the passage of the Sign Language Bill through the Assembly were interpreted into BSL and ISL.
You may also find these links to related information helpful:
Watch the Bill work its way through the Assembly
Sign Language Bill debates in the Chamber
The Sign Language Bill was introduced to the Assembly on Monday 10 February 2025 and completed its final stage on 28 April 2026. On Thursday 9 July the Bill received Royal Assent (became law) and is now known as the Sign Language Act and completed its Second Stage on Tuesday 18 February 2025.
In the Assembly the Bill was debated in the Chamber and was also scrutinised by the Committee for Communities.
Assembly Research Paper
As part of its scrutiny of the Bill, the Committee for Communities requested that the Assembly’s Research and Information Service (RaISe) produce a research paper on the Bill and its implications.
The Committee then held an evidence session with Assembly Researchers to discuss the paper and ask questions. That evidence session took place on 27 February 2025 and you can watch it back to see what was discussed.
You can also read the Sign Language Bill research paper.
In the videos below, you can also watch BSL and ISL interpreters sign the key points from the research paper. You can find these key points in pages 3-5 of the paper.
If you prefer, you can also read a written transcript of the research paper key points videos.
Committee Stage evidence sessions
The Bill was referred to the Committee for Communities for scrutiny and consideration on Tuesday 18 February 2025 following the completion of the Bill’s second stage.
Pre-Committee Stage evidence sessions
Before the Sign Language Bill was referred to the Committee for Communities, the Committee received a briefing from the Department for Communities on Thursday 6 February 2025.
The aim of this briefing session was to receive an update from the Department on the progress of the Bill to date. This session was recorded with BSL and ISL and can be watched below:
