Sen. Chaudhuri files bill in North Carolina Senate to improve language access and state holidays

A new bill filed by Sen. Chaudhuri seeks to improve inclusivity by providing multilingual resources and recognizing additional cultural and religious holidays in North Carolina, according to the North Carolina State Senate.

The bill, filed as SB 606 on March 25 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Language Access & State Holidays Act.’

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, the bill, titled “Language Access & State Holidays Act,” aims to enhance accessibility and inclusivity within North Carolina. It mandates the Division of Motor Vehicles to provide licensing materials and driver education resources in 25 languages, ensuring clarity in traffic signage for non-English speakers by July 1, 2025. Public schools must translate documents for parents into multiple languages and are advised to recognize religious holidays with excused absences. Healthcare providers are encouraged to offer multilingual services, supported by a $100,000 allocation for translating essential documents. Additionally, the bill expands recognized state holidays to include cultural and religious observances such as Diwali, Eid al-Fitr, and Yom Kippur, effective July 1, 2025. A $10,000 fund is designated for promoting awareness of these new holidays. Other respective sections become effective at various times, ensuring full implementation by the 2025-26 fiscal year.

Of the three sponsors of this bill, Mujtaba A. Mohammed proposed the most bills (26) during the 2025 regular session.

Bills in North Carolina follow a multi-step process before becoming law. A lawmaker starts by filing a bill, which is assigned to a committee for review. The bill must be read three times in each chamber. If one chamber changes the bill after the other passes it, both must agree on the final version. Once both chambers approve the same bill, it goes to the governor, who has 10 days (or 30 if the legislature is not in session) to sign, veto, or let it become law without a signature.

You can read more about the bills and other measures here.

Chaudhuri graduated from Davidson College in 1991 with a BA and again in 1999 from North Carolina Central University with a JD.

Chaudhuri, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State Senate in 2019 to represent the state’s 15th Senate district, replacing previous state senator Terry Van Duyn.