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Board of Sign Language Interpreters - Blog

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Board of Sign Language Interpreters Meeting Cancellation and Rulemaking Update

The Oregon Board of Sign Language Interpreters meeting scheduled for Thursday, December 11, 2025, has been cancelled due to not meeting board member quorum requirements and an insufficient number of sign language interprters available to sign for the meeting.

The next regularly scheduled meeting is set for Wednesday, February 4, 2026, at 4 p.m. Confirmation of that meeting will be communicated and posted on the Health Licensing Office Public Meetings webpage: https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/HLO/Pages/Public-Meetings.aspx​.

All rulemaking has been poased. The Health Licensing Office expects rulemaking will commence at the February 4, 2026, meeting.

ASL Translated FAQs for Educational, Legal and Medical Sign Language Interpreter Licenses

​The Health Licensing Office (HLO) has had the Board of Sign Language Interpreters’ (SLI) Educational, Legal, and Medical Licenses Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) translated into American Sign Language (ASL) videos, which are now available on the HLO YouTube channel. The links are as follows:

Board of Sign Language Interpreters - Rulemaking Update

The Health Licensing Office (HLO) has temporarily suspended rulemaking for the Oregon Board of Sign Language Interpreters (Board) due to an insufficient number of appointed members. At this time, only three members have been appointed to the Board; four members are required to convene an official meeting.

If additional appointments are made, the Board is expected to meet on February 4, 2026, to:

  • Adopt temporary rules implementing the requirements of SB 950 (2025), and
  • Approve proposed rules to initiate the permanent rulemaking process.

Further information regarding the February 4, 2026, meeting will be provided once new Board members have been appointed and confirmed.

For current updates, please visit the Board's meeting page:
Board of Sign Language Interpreters Meetings

Contact Information:

Upcoming HLO Closures and Delays

Mark your calendar:
The Health Licensing Office (HLO) will be closed or have delayed openings on the following days:

  • Tuesday, December 16, 2025: Late opening at 10 a.m.

  • Thursday, December 25, 2025: Closed for Christmas

  • Friday, December 26, 2025: *Lobby closed to walk-ins

  • Thursday, January 1, 2026: Closed for New Year’s Day

Examinations will not be offered, and licenses will not be issued on these days.

*On December 26, the HLO will be closed to the public to address administrative tasks. Staff will be answering phones and emails; however, there will be no over-the-counter walk-in service or testing available that day.

Our Regular office hours are:
Monday through Friday: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Testing hours are:
Monday through Friday: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

For examination and licensing questions, call (503) 378-8667. You can also email hlo.info@odhsoha.oregon.gov.

Many of your questions can be answered by consulting our website at www.oregon.gov/o​ha/ph/hlo​.

Sign Language Interpreter Educational License - FAQ

​During the 2025 Legislative Session, SB 950 (2025) was passed and signed into law by the Governor on May 28, 2025. The new law repeals the sign language interpreter (SLI) educational license, effective January 1, 2026. However, any SLI educational license issued between June 8, 2024, and December 31, 2025, will remain valid through January 1, 2029, allowing SLI educational license holders three additional years to practice.

Beginning January 1, 2026, the SLI educational license will no longer be issued or renewed due to SB 950 (2025), which repeals this license type.

The Health Licensing Office (HLO) has provided a FAQ to help understand how the current law aligns with SB 950 (2025).​

FAQ for Sign Language Interpreter Education​al License​

Sign Language Interpreter Legal and Medical Licenses - FAQ

During the 2025 Legislative Session, SB 950 (2025) was passed and signed into law by the Governor on May 28, 2025. The new law repeals the sign language interpreter (SLI) legal and medical licenses, effective January 1, 2026. However, any SLI legal or medical licenses issued between June 8, 2024, and December 31, 2025, will remain valid until January 1, 2029, allowing SLI legal and medical license holders three additional years to practice.

Beginning January 1, 2026, the SLI legal and medical licenses will no longer be issued or renewed due to SB 950 (2025), which repeals both license types.

The Health Licensing Office (HLO) has provided a FAQ to help understand how the current law aligns with SB 950 (2025).

FAQ for Sign Language Interpreter Legal License

FAQ for Sign Language Interpreter Medical License

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