Office for Deaf and Hard of Hearing presses ahead on interpreter licensure amid staffing shortfalls
February 13, 2026 | Education, Business and Administration Subcommittee, Budget and Taxation Committee, SENATE, SENATE, Committees, Legislative, Maryland
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The Subcommittee reviewed the Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing’s fiscal 2027 allowance and progress on implementing the Maryland Sign Language Interpreters Act, with lawmakers and ODHH officials focusing on staff shortages and the timing for interpreter licensure regulations.
Department of Legislative Services analyst Connor Brown said the ODHH budget rises by $69,116 (6.1%) to $1,200,000 and that about 76% of the appropriation supports personnel for seven regular positions. DLS recommended abolishing one position that has been vacant for more than a year and requested committee narrative requiring status reports on interpreter licensure rulemaking.
ODHH Director Ashula DeBary told the committee the office "respectfully disagrees" with the recommendation to abolish the vacant position, arguing that "reducing the staffing levels within ODHH would have a disproportionate impact on this community" and that full staffing is essential to implement a deaf/deafblind case‑management unit recommended by a work group. DeBary and staff said hiring was paused due to a statewide hiring freeze but that they intend to complete recruitment by the end of fiscal year 2026.
On licensing, Teneya Brown (ODHH) said the office and its amendment sponsors "do have a goal of being able to publish the regulations by December 31 this year," with the regulations planned to take effect July 1, 2027; she also referenced a hearing scheduled for Feb. 26. ODHH staff described extensive outreach efforts — town halls, newsletters, captioned videos and social posts — and said they were increasing translated materials and interpreter services for public meetings.
Committee members pressed ODHH for clarity on which services have been affected by vacancies and asked for a specific timeline and follow‑up materials; ODHH said staff duties have been redistributed to maintain statutory obligations but that the workload has constrained proactive initiatives. The office agreed to provide hiring status updates and to continue working with lawmakers on the licensure amendment and implementation steps.
What happens next: ODHH will provide vacancy timelines and periodic updates on rulemaking and implementation to the committee, and DLS requested two reports tracking progress on the interpreter licensing regulations.
Department of Legislative Services analyst Connor Brown said the ODHH budget rises by $69,116 (6.1%) to $1,200,000 and that about 76% of the appropriation supports personnel for seven regular positions. DLS recommended abolishing one position that has been vacant for more than a year and requested committee narrative requiring status reports on interpreter licensure rulemaking.
ODHH Director Ashula DeBary told the committee the office "respectfully disagrees" with the recommendation to abolish the vacant position, arguing that "reducing the staffing levels within ODHH would have a disproportionate impact on this community" and that full staffing is essential to implement a deaf/deafblind case‑management unit recommended by a work group. DeBary and staff said hiring was paused due to a statewide hiring freeze but that they intend to complete recruitment by the end of fiscal year 2026.
On licensing, Teneya Brown (ODHH) said the office and its amendment sponsors "do have a goal of being able to publish the regulations by December 31 this year," with the regulations planned to take effect July 1, 2027; she also referenced a hearing scheduled for Feb. 26. ODHH staff described extensive outreach efforts — town halls, newsletters, captioned videos and social posts — and said they were increasing translated materials and interpreter services for public meetings.
Committee members pressed ODHH for clarity on which services have been affected by vacancies and asked for a specific timeline and follow‑up materials; ODHH said staff duties have been redistributed to maintain statutory obligations but that the workload has constrained proactive initiatives. The office agreed to provide hiring status updates and to continue working with lawmakers on the licensure amendment and implementation steps.
What happens next: ODHH will provide vacancy timelines and periodic updates on rulemaking and implementation to the committee, and DLS requested two reports tracking progress on the interpreter licensing regulations.
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