The Health Committee of the Chamber of Deputies approved a bill that provides for Libras (Brazilian Sign Language) interpreter services in urgent and emergency care in medium and large hospitals.
The approved text is the version of the rapporteur, deputy Rogéria Santos (Republicanos-BA), for the by then deputy Raniery Paulino (Republicanos-PB), currently on the bench. The rapporteur presented a new wording.
The approved substitute allows establishments to adopt different forms of accessible care for deaf or hard of hearing patients, in order to ensure adequate means of communication.
Rogéria Santos states in the approved opinion that “the text expands the possibilities of complying with the standard, through the training of professionals in Libras or through the use of remote interpretation services, including through digital technologies”said in the approved opinion.
In justifying the original project, Raniery Paulino stated that there is already a provision for the presence of a companion when caring for people who need help, but not specifically in cases of urgency and emergency.
Next steps
The project will still be analyzed, conclusively, by the committees for the Defense of the Rights of People with Disabilities; Finance and Taxation; and Constitution and Justice and Citizenship.
To become law, it will have to be approved by the Chamber and the Senate.
This text was originally published by Agência Câmara, on May 5, 2026. The content is free for republication, citing the source, it was adapted to the standard of Poder360.
