Both West Virginia and Virginia now have bills for open captions in movie theaters! Please share this update with people in West Virginia and Virginia.

West Virginia:

What: Senate Bill 58.

What it does: requires theaters with 2 or more locations in West Virginia to offer at least two open captioned screenings per film available with open captions.

Where can I read this bill? https://legiscan.com/WV/bill/SB58/2022

Where this bill is now: SB 58 is in the Economic Development Committee.

Who sponsors SB 58? Senators Michael Caputo and Richard Lindsay.

Action is urgently needed. Why? West Virginia legislative session will end March 12.

What can you do if you live in West Virginia (or know someone who lives in West Virginia)? You can (or tell them to) contact Senators on the Economic Development Committee to ask for their support for SB58:

• Senator Swope – Chair - chandler.swope@wvsenate.gov/(304) 357-7843/ (304) 920-2460
• Senator Martin - Vice-Chair - patrick.martin@wvsenate.gov/ (304) 357-7845
• Senator Azinger - mike.azinger@wvsenate.gov/ (304) 357-7970/ (304) 916-2177
• Senator Brown - owens.brown@wvsenate.gov/ (304) 357-7918
• Senator Hamilton - bill.hamilton@wvsenate.gov/ (304) 357-7906/ (304) 472-1966
• Senator Jeffries - glenn.jeffries@wvsenate.gov/ (304) 357-7866/ (304) 586-1156
• Senator Nelson - eric.nelson@wvsenate.gov/ (304) 357-7854
• Senator Roberts - rollan.roberts@wvsenate.gov/ (304) 357-7831/ (681) 238-1779
• Senator Romano - mike.romano@wvsenate.gov/ (304) 357-7904/ (304) 624-1100
• Senator Stollings - ron.stollings@wvsenate.gov/ (304) 357-7939/ (304) 369-6194
• Senator Stover - david.stover@wvsenate.gov/ (304) 357-7807/
• Senator Tarr - eric.tarr@wvsenate.gov/ (304) 357-7901/ (304) 202-4276
• Senator Woelfel - mike.woelfel@wvsenate.gov/ (304) 357-7956/ (304) 522-6249
• Senator Woodrum - jack.woodrum@wvsenate.gov/ (304) 357-7849/ (304) 660-9241

Virginia:

What: HB 407

What it does (this may change):  Mandates open captions for theaters with 4 or more screens. Includes drive-in (outdoor) theaters. Mandates open captions twice a week for movies shown more than a week. At least one screening must be during “peak time.”

Where can I read this bill? https://legiscan.com/VA/bill/HB407/2022

Where this bill is now: HB407 is in subcommittee #3 of the Health, Welfare and Institutions Committee as of Jan. 21.

Who sponsors HB407? Delegates Vivian Watts and Kaye Kory.

Action is urgently needed. Why? Virginia’s legislative session will end March 12.

What can you do if you live in Virginia (or know someone who lives in Virginia)? You can (or tell them to) contact the Delegates on Subcommittee #3 to ask for their support for HB407:

• Walker, Wendell S (Chair) - DelWWalker@house.virginia.gov/ (804) 698-1023/ (434) 515-2264
• Head, Christopher T - DelCHead@house.virginia.gov/ (804) 698-1017/ (540) 283-2839
• Orrock, Robert D - DelBOrrock@house.virginia.gov/ (804) 698-1054/ (540) 891-1322
• Hayes, C.E. (Cliff) Jr - DelCHayes@house.virginia.gov/ (804) 698-1077/ (757) 364-0272
• Tran, Kathy KL - DelKTran@house.virginia.gov/ (804) 698-1042/ (703) 539-2066

Virginians can also use this link: https://hodspeak.house.virginia.gov/committees/H12/bill_feedback and select HB407.