British Sign Language (Wales) Bill

A Member Bill, introduced by Mark Isherwood MS. The Business Committee has remitted the Bill to the Equality and Social Justice Committee.

About the Bill

British Sign Language (BSL) is a language that uses gestures, handshapes, facial expressions and body language to convey meaning and which, in its tactile forms, can also use touch. The aim of the Bill is to promote its use in Wales and imposes various new duties on Welsh Ministers and on certain public bodies.

The Bill includes provision for the Welsh Government to:

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>>>promote and facilitate the use of BSL.

>>>publish a National BSL Strategy describing how they intend to promote and facilitate the use of BSL and report on progress.

>>>produce guidance for public bodies listed in the Bill about promoting and facilitating the use of BSL.

>>>appoint a BSL adviser and a panel to assist the adviser.

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Certain specified public bodies will also be required to produce BSL plans describing how they intend to promote and facilitate the use of BSL and report on progress.

Further detail about the Bill can be found in its accompanying Explanatory Memorandum.

Current Stage

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The Bill is currently at Stage 2. An explanation of the various stages of Senedd Bills is available in the Guide to the Stages of Public Bills and Acts.

Record of Passage in the Welsh Parliament

The following table sets out the dates for each stage of the Bill’s passage through the Senedd.

¬¬¬Stage 2, Committee consideration of amendments (Current)

Stage 2 began on 18 December 2025.

The deadline for tabling amendments is five working days before the date of the meeting at which they are to be considered.

Stage 2 consideration will take place in Committee on 26 January 2026.

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¬¬¬ Financial Resolution (17 December 2025)

In accordance with Standing Order 26.68 the Presiding Officer has indicated that a financial resolution is required for this Bill. Further information about financial resolutions is available in the Guide to the scrutiny stages for Public Bills (PDF 278KB).

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¬¬¬Stage 1 (21 July 2025 – 17 December 2025)

A debate took place in Plenary on 17 December 2025. The motion to agree the general principles of the Bill was agreed. The debate can be viewed on Senedd TV, where BSL subtitles are available.

Outcome of the Plenary debate at Stage 1 (BSL, YouTube)

YouTube-Here https://www.youtube.com/embed/TeX89OU5bSM?si=wOXKf4Vl-zW6DNP1

BSL summary of Stage 1 reports on the British Sign Language (Wales) Bill (YouTube)

YouTube-Here https://www.youtube.com/embed/H8MW8U5VUto?si=5raKhh-uOAdndeJ1

The Equality and Social Justice Committee considered its approach to Stage 1 consideration on 21 July 2025.

Committee dates

The Equality and Social Justice Committee considered the Bill on the following dates:

Date and Agenda	Purpose of meeting	Transcript	Senedd.TV
15 September 2025	Evidence session with Mark Isherwood, MS, Member in Charge of the Bill	Transcript	View session
22 September 2025	Evidence session with a panel of academics Evidence session with a panel of Deaf people organisations	Transcript	View session
29 September 2025	Evidence session with a Deaf children and Young People panel Evidence session with an academic panel (with a focus on legal and linguistic rights)	Transcript	View session
6 October 2025	Evidence session with disability organisations and an Older People panel Evidence session with a panel of health bodies subject to the Act	Transcript	View Session
13 October 2025	Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip Evidence session with a panel of Local Authorities	Transcript	View Session
20 October 2025	Evidence session with Mark Isherwood, MS, the Member in charge of the Bill	Transcript	View Session

A summary of engagement findings was prepared on 20 October 2025.

Summary of engagement findings (BSL version, YouTube)

YouTube-Here https://www.youtube.com/embed/rMoehDuRRGs?si=-n5bgN3iKz4a5lOL

The Equality and Social Care Committee Stage 1 Report (PDF 2.3MB) was laid on 5 December 2025.

Mark Isherwood gave his response to the Committee’s report in 12 December 2025.

The Welsh Government laid their response to the Committee’s report on 15 December 2025.

YouTube-Here https://www.youtube.com/embed/A8Kj-Cq8v3g?si=2uQYcIdpqS0hw-kH

Welsh Government Response to the Committee’s report (BSL version, YouTube)

The Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee considered the Bill on the following dates:

Date and Agenda	Purpose of meeting	Transcript	Senedd.TV
6 October 2025	Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip	Transcript	View meeting
13 October 2025	Evidence session with Mark Isherwood, MS, the Member in charge of the Bill	Transcript	View meeting

The Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee laid its report (PDF 1.7MB) on 4 December 2025.

Mark Isherwood MS responded (PDF 125KB) to the report on 10 December 2025.

The Welsh Government responded (PDF 1.8MB) to the report on 15 December 2025.

The Finance Committee considered the Bill on the following dates:

Date and Agenda	Purpose of meeting	Transcript	Senedd.TV
18 September 2025	Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief whip	Transcript	View meeting
24 September 2025	Evidence session with Mark Isherwood MS, Member in charge	Transcript	View meeting