Panel scraps curricular mandates, names "I love you" gesture as official ASL symbol

The committee revised bill 46-10 with a strike-all subcommittee amendment that removes instructions requiring curriculum changes, signage by state agencies, and wide publication; the amendment leaves only the naming of the state's official American Sign Language symbol.

A sponsor described the simpler version: "Instead, all of that is stricken and all it does is named the I love you hand gesture as the official American sign language symbol of the state." Members noted the subcommittee amendment should result in "0 fiscal impact" because it drops requirements that would have required agency action or curricular revisions.

After discussion a motion to adopt the subcommittee amendment carried on voice/roll; committee members agreed to use unanimous-consent procedures where appropriate to carry votes forward.

The committee advanced the bill as amended; no implementation timeline beyond the committee action was specified in this session.