Template:Official languages of U.S. states and territories
| Place | English official | Other official language(s) | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Yes | None | since 1990[1] |
| Alaska | Yes | Inupiaq, Siberian Yupik, Central Alaskan Yup'ik, Alutiiq, Unangax, Dena'ina, Deg Xinag, Holikachuk, Koyukon, Upper Kuskokwim, Gwich'in, Tanana, Upper Tanana, Tanacross, Hän, Ahtna, Eyak, Tlingit, Haida, Tsimshian[2] |
since 2015[2] |
| Arizona | Yes | None | since 2006, 1988 law ruled unconstitutional[3] |
| Arkansas | Yes | None | since 1987[1] |
| California | Yes | None | since 1986 with Proposition 63.[1] Proposition 63 is unenforceable due to the lack of appropriate legislation,[4] and the Bilingual Services Act provides for the use of other languages in public outreach.[5] |
| Colorado | Yes | None | since 1988;[1] from 1876–1990 the Colorado Constitution required laws to be published in English, Spanish, and German[6] |
| Connecticut | No | None[1] | |
| Delaware | No | None[1] | |
| Florida | Yes | None | since 1988[1] |
| Georgia | Yes | None | since 1996[1] |
| Hawaii | Yes | Hawaiian | since 1978[1] |
| Idaho | Yes | None | since 2007[1] |
| Illinois | Yes | None | since 1969; "American" was the official language 1923–1969.[1] |
| Indiana | Yes | None | since 1984[1] |
| Iowa | Yes | None | since 2002[1] |
| Kansas | Yes | None | since 2007[1] |
| Kentucky | Yes | None | since 1984[1] |
| Louisiana | No | None | French has had special status since 1968 founding of CODOFIL.[1][7] |
| Maine | No | None[1] | |
| Maryland | No | None[1] | |
| Massachusetts | Yes | None[1] | A 1975 state supreme court case, Commonwealth v. Olivo, underscored official status of English;[8] in 2002, English was declared the "common public language."[9] |
| Michigan | No | None[1] | |
| Minnesota | No | None[1] | |
| Mississippi | Yes | None | since 1987[1] |
| Missouri | Yes | None[1] | since 1998; state constitution amended accordingly in 2008[10] |
| Montana | Yes | None | since 1995[1] |
| Nebraska | Yes | None | since 1920[11] |
| Nevada | No | None[1] | |
| New Hampshire | Yes | None | since 1995[1] |
| New Jersey | No | None[1] | |
| New Mexico | No | None | Spanish has had special recognition since 1912 passage of state constitution. See article. English Plus since 1989[1] |
| New York | No | None[1] | |
| North Carolina | Yes | None | since 1987[1] |
| North Dakota | Yes | None | since 1987[1] |
| Ohio | No | None[1] | |
| Oklahoma | Yes | None | since 2010. The Choctaw language is official within the Choctaw Nation; the Cherokee language has been official among the Cherokee and the UKB since 1991.[12][13][14][15] |
| Oregon | No | None | English Plus since 1989[1] |
| Pennsylvania | No | None[1] | |
| Rhode Island | No | None | English Plus since 1992[1] |
| South Carolina | Yes | None | since 1987[1] |
| South Dakota | Yes | Sioux | since 1995,[1] since 2019[16] |
| Tennessee | Yes | None | since 1984[1] |
| Texas | No | None[1] | |
| Utah | Yes | None | English only from 2000–2021;[1] since 2021, the Utah code has been amended to be English official but not English only.[17] |
| Vermont | No | None[1] | |
| Virginia | Yes | None | since 1996[1] |
| Washington | No | None | English Plus since 1989[1] |
| West Virginia | Yes | None[1] | since 2016[18] |
| Wisconsin | No | None[1] | |
| Wyoming | Yes | None | since 1996[1] |
| District of Columbia | No | None[19][20] | The Language Access Act of 2004 guarantees equal access and participation in public services, programs, and activities for residents of the District of Columbia who cannot (or have limited capacity to) speak, read, or write English. Speakers of Amharic, French, Chinese, Spanish, Vietnamese and Korean receive additional accommodations.[21][22] |
| American Samoa | Yes | Samoan[23] | |
| Guam | Yes | Chamorro[24] | |
| Northern Mariana Islands | Yes | Chamorro, Carolinian[25] | |
| Puerto Rico | Yes | Spanish[26] | |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | Yes | None[27] |
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at Crawford, James (June 24, 2008). "Language Legislation in the U.S.A." languagepolicy.net. Retrieved April 27, 2011.
- ^ a b "Alaska State Legislature". www.akleg.gov.
- ^ "Arizona makes English official". Washington Times. November 8, 2006. Retrieved April 28, 2011.
- ^ Dillow, Gordon (May 21, 2006). "English-only law likely would go unenforced". The Orange County Register. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
- ^ "Language Access Laws and Legal Issues: A Local Official's Guide" (PDF). Institute for Local Government. Institute for Local Government. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
- ^ Constitution of the State of Colorado (PDF). p. 132. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
- ^ Crawford, James. "Language Policy -- Louisiana". Language Legislation in the U.S.A. Retrieved 2016-10-10.
- ^ https://www.cga.ct.gov/2004/rpt/2004-R-0544.htm
- ^ https://malegislature.gov/Laws/SessionLaws/Acts/2002/Chapter386
- ^ IT, Missouri Secretary of State - (2020-03-03). "2008 Ballot Measures". Missouri Secretary of State. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
- ^ "Section I-27, English language to be official". Justia Law. 2022-01-24. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
- ^ "Keetoowah Cherokee is the Official Language of the UKB" (PDF). keetoowahcherokee.org/. Keetoowah Cherokee News: Official Publication of the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma. April 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
- ^ "UKB Constitution and By-Laws in the Keetoowah Cherokee Language (PDF)" (PDF). www.keetoowahcherokee.org/. United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
- ^ "The Cherokee Nation & its Language" (PDF). University of Minnesota: Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition. 2008. Retrieved 2014-05-22.
- ^ Slipke, Darla (November 3, 2010). "Oklahoma elections: Republican-backed measures win approval". NewsOK. The Oklahoman. Retrieved April 28, 2011.
- ^ "Amendment For Printed Bill". South Dakota Legislature.
- ^ Official Language Amendments (Bill). Utah Legislature. 22 March 2021.
- ^ "U.S. English Efforts Lead West Virginia to Become 32nd State to Recognize English as Official Language". U.S. English. March 5, 2016. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
- ^ "(Un)Constitutionality of English as the Official Language of the US". Daily Kos.
- ^ Zavodny, Madeline (July 2000). "The Effects of Official English Laws on Limited‐English‐Proficient Workers". Journal of Labor Economics. 18 (3). The University of Chicago Press: 427–452. doi:10.1086/209965.
- ^ "Know Your Rights: Language Access | ohr". ohr.dc.gov.
- ^ ""I Speak" Cards for Language Assistance | ohr". ohr.dc.gov.
- ^ "Samoa now an official language of instruction in American Samoa". Radio New Zealand International. 2008-10-03. Retrieved 2011-04-28.
- ^ Guam at the Encyclopædia Britannica
- ^ Northern Mariana Islands at the Encyclopædia Britannica
- ^ Crawford, James. "Puerto Rico and Official English". languagepolicy.net. Retrieved April 27, 2011.
- ^ "Frequently Asked Questions". visitusvi.com. United States Virgin Islands. Retrieved April 27, 2011.