January 9, 2026

(TRENTON) – New Jersey Human Services, the Office of the Attorney General, and the New Jersey Office of Information Technology today released the first annual report on New Jersey’s Language Access Initiative, which offers an overview of the State’s progress in implementing the law signed by Governor Phil Murphy in 2024 to expand language access to government information, services, and benefits.

In January 2024, Governor Philip Murphy enacted P.L. 2023, c. 263, making New Jersey one of the few states in the nation with a comprehensive statewide language access mandate. The law requires an annual report to the Legislature and the Governor.

Read the report here.

“Basic access to information and services is a bedrock of a fair society. This report marks a significant step in New Jersey’s whole-of-government effort to make vital programs and documents accessible for all residents. Significant progress has been made thanks to the work of many, and we continue to work toward better serving the people of our diverse state,” said Human Services Commissioner Sarah Adelman.

“Nearly one-third of New Jerseyans speak a language other than English at home – including one in eight who say they don’t speak English well. For that reason, increasing language access to vital government resources is critical to helping keep our residents safe, healthy, and properly informed,” said Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin. “The Department of Law and Public Safety protects the lives and property of New Jersey residents through a complex array of responsibilities spread across many divisions, offices, and commissions, and we are committed to making government resources more accessible to our State’s diverse population.”

“This Language Access Report captures the large, cross-agency effort that the New Jersey Department of Human Services has coordinated for compliance with the Language Access legislation. We at the Office of Information Technology are proud to have provided tools, technology support, and infrastructure to enable this important Initiative for New Jersey,” said Office of Information Technology Chief Technology Officer Christopher J. Rein.

Under the law, all State government entities in the Executive Branch that provide direct services to the public are required to translate vital documents and information, including public documents such as forms and instructions, for individuals with limited English proficiency in the State, in at least the seven most common non-English languages spoken in New Jersey.

The law also requires State government entities to provide interpreting services on an ongoing basis, and to give notice of the availability of such services. Additionally, the law mandates the development of language access plans, which help establish systems for entities to plan, deliver, and monitor language assistance services, ensuring effective access for all.

According to the latest American Community Survey data, the seven most commonly spoken languages by individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP) in New Jersey are: Spanish, Portuguese, Korean, Gujarati, Chinese (including Mandarin and Cantonese), French or Haitian Creole, and Arabic.

The report highlights significant progress in key areas, including language access planning, staff capacity-building, identification of vital documents and translation, and plan development and publication. Designated Language Access Coordinators meet regularly in an ongoing Community of Practice group for expert technical assistance. The 34 agency-level Language Access Plans issued concurrently and the progress summarized in the Annual Report map the ways Covered State Entities are embracing language access in their routine operations.

It also emphasizes ongoing challenges that yield varied levels of implementation progress across agencies, such as limited personnel, vendor, and resource capacity. The report concludes with recommendations designed to streamline implementation across agencies, improve operational consistency, and ensure equitable access to government services. These recommendations focus on robust resources, strengthening infrastructure, modernizing processes, broadening training initiatives, improving monitoring mechanisms, and embedding accessibility principles into everyday decision-making and service delivery practices.

The State has also launched a new webpage dedicated to the Language Access Initiative on the Office of New Americans website. This webpage provides information about the implementation of the law, including a directory to Language Access Plans for State Covered Entities.

“Removing language barriers in a state as diverse as New Jersey, where so many different languages are spoken, is just smart policy. This report highlights achievements, identifies opportunities for growth, and provides recommendations to help state agencies fully realize the spirit of the law,” said Deputy Commissioner for Social Services Michael J. Wilson.

According to U.S. census data, New Jersey is among the most racially and linguistically diverse states in the nation. Nearly 1.2 million residents aged 5 years and older have LEP, including more than approximately 1 million foreign-born residents and approximately 170,000 U.S.-born residents. Overall, close to 31 percent of New Jersey’s population speaks a language other than English at home.

“Most immigrant children have served as translators and interpreters for their families, navigating complex government documents and services on their behalf. New Americans can relate to the stress and challenges that come with engaging with government entities in a new country while facing communication barriers. These experiences highlight why this work is so important. I look forward to continuing to collaborate with partner agencies to ensure they have the support they need to provide meaningful language access, so all residents can benefit from state information and services,” said Office of New Americans Director Johanna Calle.

Human Services’ Office of New Americans is leading this initiative on behalf of Human Services, working with the AG’s Office and the OIT to advance these efforts and support statewide implementation.

The ONA initially partnered with Rutgers University’s Institute for Families and School of Social Work to assess community needs and develop an initial Language Access Plan for Human Services. This served as a starting point for developing templates and resources for other State agencies and authorities. This collaboration laid the groundwork for improving and further developing language access tools and advancing practices to ensure that newly immigrated families, refugees, and individuals with LEP, as well as those with vision and/or hearing impairments, received information in their preferred language.

ONA has established internal infrastructure to provide technical assistance and ongoing support on language accessibility to fellow State agencies that provide direct services to the public, including conducting a preliminary assessment of current State-contracted vendors for translation services. OIT developed technological solutions to improve access to translation tools for State agencies required to comply with the law, and the AG’s Office has provided ongoing legal support to help State agencies understand and meet legal requirements.