Effective January 1, 2026: Temporary Pause for License Applications and License Renewals and the Repeal of Educational, Legal and Medical Licenses
During the 2025 Legislative Session, Senate Bill (SB) 950 (2025) was enacted to further refine the licensure and regulation of sign language interpreters (SLI) in Oregon. The bill requires the Board of Sign Language Interpreters (Board) to adopt administrative rules by January 1, 2026, to:
- Establish licensing and renewal fees;
- Establish requirements for obtaining an SLI–in-training license, including supervision and renewal standards;
- Align SLI supervisory, generalist, and provisional licenses with a three-year license and renewal cycle;
- Remove renewal limitations for the SLI generalist license and permit up to two renewals of the SLI provisional license, with each renewal valid for three years, effective January 1, 2026; and
- Establish authorized practice settings for individuals issued an SLI educational, legal, or medical licenses prior to January 1, 2026.
The Board was scheduled to meet on October 22, 2025, to adopt temporary rules necessary to meet the January 1, 2026, operative date of SB 950 (2025). However, a Board member's resignation during the meeting resulted in the loss of quorum, requiring the meeting to be canceled. Additional meetings could not be scheduled during the remainder of 2025 because quorum requirements continued to be unmet.
As a result, the Board was unable to adopt temporary rules or establish license and renewal fees prior to the bill's operative date. Accordingly, the Board will temporarily pause acceptance of all sign language interpreter license applications and license renewals until it is able to meet, adopt temporary rules, and establish a fee structure.
The Board is currently scheduled to meet on February 4, 2026, contingent upon meeting public meeting law requirements, including quorum and language access obligations. The HLO anticipates that temporary rules will be reviewed and adopted at that meeting.
Any license or renewal applications received by the HLO during the temporary pause, and prior to the adoption of temporary rules, will be returned to the sender with instructions on how to proceed.
Educational, Legal and Medical License Holders
If you were issued a permanent Board SLI educational, legal or medical license between June 8, 2024, and December 31, 2025, your license will be extended until January 1, 2029, and you can provide sign language interpretation services in settings that the Board authorizes without needing extra licenses. The Board was scheduled to adopt temporary rules on October 22, 2025, but quorum requirements to hold a public meeting could not be met. The Board is scheduled to meet on February 4, 2026, at which time the Board is expected to review and adopt temporary rules, including defining educational, medical and legal settings.
The HLO has published FAQs to help understand how the current law aligns with SB 950 (2025).
Limited Waiver on Enforcement Extended
While the Oregon Board of Sign Language Interpreters, Rules Advisory Committee continues to work through the rule writing process to make rule language recommendations to the Board, the Health Licensing Office (HLO) is extending the limited waiver on enforcement through midnight on June 30, 2026. This means that the HLO is exercising its discretion to not take disciplinary action against individuals who are required to be licensed and choose to work under the limited waiver on enforcement, i.e., not obtain a permanent board license (permanent license).
The limited waiver of enforcement is narrow; the waiver only applies to the singular issue of providing sign language interpretation services in Oregon without a license. The HLO may impose discipline for any other violation of the HLO or Board rules or statutes. The limited waiver of enforcement ends on June 30, 2026. On July 1, 2026, any individual not covered by an exception and providing sign language interpreting (SLI) services will need to have a permanent license to avoid enforcement action by HLO.
Practitioner Information
The following regulated professions are overseen by the Board of Sign Language Interpreters. Learn more about applying for a license, associated fees, laws, rules and more by following the links below:
About the Board
The Oregon Board of Sign Language Interpreters consists of seven members appointed by the Governor:
- Two members who are deaf, deafblind or hard of hearing and who represent an association in Oregon that promotes and protects the rights of persons who are deaf and hard of hearing.
- One member who represents a professional organization in Oregon for sign language interpreters and who holds a license issued by the Health Licensing Office.
- One member who represents a sign language interpreter education program at a post-secondary institution in Oregon and who holds a license issued by the Health Licensing Office.
- Two members who are hearing interpreters certified by or registered with a national organization for sign language interpreters and who holds a license issued by the Health Licensing Office.
- One member who is a deaf interpreter certified by or registered with a national organization for sign language interpreters and who holds a license issued by the Health Licensing Office.
All members must be residents of Oregon and proficient in American Sign Language. The term of office of each member of the board is three years, with a member eligible for reappointment. Members serve at the pleasure of the Governor.
Board Members
Colleen Thayer
Deaf interpreter certified by or registered with a national organization for sign language interpreters, holds a license issued by the HLO, and is proficient in ASL.
Term: 1st Full
Term end: 12/31/2025
Salem
Eric Crook
Represents a sign language interpreter education program at a post-secondary institution in Oregon, holds a license issued by the HLO, and is proficient in ASL.
Term: 1st Full
Term end: 12/31/2027
Medford
Hello, my name is Eric Crook. I am honored to be on this board and to serve the state and my fellow colleagues in the field. A bit about myself: I am a United States Marine Corps veteran (2002-2007). After serving my country honorably, I discharged, moved to Sacramento, CA, and began my Interpreting journey.
I started learning ASL in junior college, which led to my transferring to California State University Sacramento, where I majored in Deaf studies. After getting my BA, I wasn't sure what to do next, so I followed my advisor's recommendation to apply to the interpreting program at American River College in Sacramento. After I applied, I made it through screening and was accepted into the program.
Upon graduating Interpreter training, I hit the ground running and began working in post-secondary and community work. I joined the local RID organization, SaVRID, and quickly became a member of the board, Member at Large.
In 2013, I moved to Medford, Oregon, and began working as a K-12 interpreter and post-secondary at the local community college. After a couple of years, I decided to explore other opportunities and got hired on with a VRS company back in Sacramento. VRS was a challenge at first. Ok, honestly, it was more like drinking from a fire hose! Although it was challenging, I attribute so much of my professional growth to that job and the people I worked with.
In 2015, my family and I had some life changes and ended up moving back to Medford. At that time, I took a job with the state, working for the Office of Aging and People with Disabilities. There, I worked as a case manager and learned a lot about how the state works. I was also asked to join a Disability Services Advisory council where I was able to build a network of advocates. Through that board, we identified that our Deaf community in Southern Oregon is severely impacted and not adequately served. From that group, we formed a “Deaf Issues Work Group" to have a forum to discuss barriers in the community. That group is still going strong today! They have hosted a medical forum to educate our local clinicians and providers about access needs. They have also done a lot of work with the local CCOs to ensure access at medical appointments.
In 2018, after an outpouring of need from the community, I opened an Interpreting agency in Medford, SOS Interpreting Inc. In 2019, there was an opening at Southern Oregon University in their disability resources office. I was at SOU as an accommodations and learning specialist/ASL interpreter initially. Later, I would become the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Coordinator.
Then in 2020, we got rocked by COVID. I was working from home like most everyone else. People stopped meeting in person, and business for the agency tanked. By 2021, I had to close the doors, unfortunately.
In late 2022, I was approached by the Southern Oregon Education Services District regarding an administrator position that they had created to oversee their ASL Interpreting Department. I was floored to be offered the position and graciously accepted. I've now been with the SOESD for just over a year as an administrator.
I am so honored to be on this board, and I look forward to the work and hope to do my best for our profession.
Tammy Adams
Hearing interpreter certified by or registered with a national organization for sign language interpreters, holds a license issued by the HLO, and is proficient in ASL.
Term: 1st Full
Term end: 12/31/2025
Gresham
Hello, my name is Tammy Adams, and I am honored to be appointed to this inaugural board. I am a graduate of Portland Community College’s interpreting program and hold certifications from RID (CT) and EIPA: Secondary (4.7). I have been actively interpreting since 1995 and have extensive experience in K–12 and post-secondary educational environments, as well as working as a freelance interpreter. In addition, I have experience supervising and coordinating college-level interpreters. I find tremendous enjoyment in my current position providing interpreting services to younger students who are often in need of language models and language development.
In my current interpreting position with Columbia Regional Inclusive Services, I am the Vice President at Large for the union and a member of the bargaining team. I take pride in collaboratively working towards pay equity that will result in drawing highly skilled interpreters to the K–12 setting to support our students in gaining equal access to their education.
The Board of Sign Language Interpreters currently has an opening for a Member – Deaf, deafblind, or hard of hearing; represents an Oregon association that advocates for the protection of persons who are deaf and hard of hearing; and is proficient in ASL. To apply, fill out the Application form.
The Board of Sign Language Interpreters currently has an opening for a Member – Deaf, deafblind, or hard of hearing; represents an Oregon association that advocates for the protection of persons who are deaf and hard of hearing; and is proficient in ASL. To apply, fill out the Application form.
The Board of Sign Language Interpreters currently has an opening for a Member – Hearing interpreter certified by or registered with a national organization for SLI; holds a license issued by the HLO; and is proficient in ASL. To apply, fill out the Application form.
The Board of Sign Language Interpreters currently has an opening for a Member – Represents a professional organization in Oregon for SLI; holds a license issued by the HLO; and is proficient in ASL. To apply, fill out the Application form.
Board Recruitment
Are you interested in serving as a volunteer citizen board member? HLO-regulated boards seek new members as current board member terms expire.
Current vacancies and how to apply
For board recruitment questions or the appointment process, contact the Oregon Governor's Office of Executive Appointments at 503-378-6829.
Violations of Oregon Public Meetings Law
There are mandatory prerequisites for submitting Public Meetings Law complaints to the Oregon Government Ethics Commission (OGEC). These prerequisites also apply to executive session complaints. If you fail to satisfy the mandatory prerequisites before filing your complaint with OGEC, the OGEC has stated that it will dismiss your complaint.
If you are comfortable addressing your public meetings law concern directly with the Health Licensing Office (HLO) instead of filing a formal complaint, then the HLO invites you to do so. However, if this is not possible or if your concerns remain unresolved, the OGEC has the authority to enforce public meetings laws.
The OGEC offers a complaint process to submit alleged violations of Oregon public meetings law. Information about the process and frequently asked questions can be found at: https://www.oregon.gov/ogec/public-records/Pages/Complaints.aspx.
In accordance with the mandatory prerequisite of filing a written grievance with the public body before filing your complaint with OGEC, you can submit the “Oregon Public Meetings Law – Complaint Form" to Josh Page through one of the following methods:
- By email to josh.page@oha.oregon.gov.
- In person, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. on any open business day, Monday through Friday, at the following location:
Health Licensing Office
1430 Tandem Ave. NE, Suite 180
Salem, OR 97301-2192
- Via mail, addressed to the attention of Josh Page at the above HLO address.