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] [3]
Arizona
Yes
None
since 2006, 1988 law ruled unconstitutional[4]
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,[5] and the Bilingual Services Act provides for the use of other languages in public outreach.[6]
Colorado
Yes
None
since 1988;[1] from 1876–1990 the Colorado Constitution required laws to be published in English, Spanish, and German[7]
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] [8]
Maine
No
None[1]
Maryland
No
None[1]
Massachusetts
Yes
None[1]
since 2002; 1975 law ruled unconstitutional
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[9]
Montana
Yes
None
since 1995[1]
Nebraska
Yes
None
since 1920[10]
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.[11] [12] [13] [14]
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[15]
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.[16]
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[17]
Wisconsin
No
None[1]
Wyoming
Yes
None
since 1996[1]
District of Columbia
No
None[18] [19]
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.[20] [21]
American Samoa
Yes
Samoan [22]
Guam
Yes
Chamorro [23]
Northern Mariana Islands
Yes
Chamorro , Carolinian [24]
Puerto Rico
Yes
Spanish [25]
U.S. Virgin Islands
Yes
None[26]
References
These references will appear in the article, but this list appears only on this page.
^ 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 .
^ "Once forbidden, Alaska's Native languages now official state languages" . KTOO. October 24, 2014. Retrieved October 25, 2014 .
^ "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 .
^ 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 of 22 March 2021 . Utah Legislature.
^ "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 .