Below are the key bills HAPPEN is following during the current legislative session. Updates will be provided as they become available.
Immigration Protections
Second Substitute House Bill 2105 provides clarity for employer and employee’s rights about federal I-9 audits. The bill would require employers to notify their employees within 72 hours of receiving demands from federal agency to inspect I-9 forms. The law will take effect June 11, 2026; sections 4-10 will take effect October 1, 2026.
Substitute House Bill 2411 expands the shared leave program to include situations in which employees or relatives of employees are victims of hate crimes or if absence is due to immigration enforcement actions affecting them or family members. The law will take effect June 11, 2026.
House Bill 2632 requires all local statutes and official documents enacted after July 1, 2026 to use the term “noncitizen” instead of “alien” when referring to an individual who is not a citizen or U.S. national. This law will take effect June 11, 2026; sections 11, 13, 14, and 16 take effect May 1, 2027; sections 5, 9, and 30 take effect June 30, 2027.
Interactions with Law Enforcement
Substitute Senate Bill 5855 bans law enforcement officers from the use of face coverings that conceal their identity while interacting with the public on duty. This law is currently in effect, as of March 19, 2026.
Language Supports
Substitute House Bill 2475 directs the Office of Equity to develop guidelines affirming protection against unlawful discrimination, facilitate consistent practice by state agencies, and eliminate unclear agency interpretations of standards around language access. This will be in effect June 11, 2026.
Education
Engrossed Third Substitute House Bill 1634 provides school districts and public schools with assistance to coordinate comprehensive behavioral health supports for students, establish training networks to support teachers and students, and have consistent evidence-based definitions of behavioral health across the state. This law will go into effect June 11, 2026.