KEY:

State Official English Law currently in effect (28)

State Official English Law Overturned (2)

State Official English Law Upheld (2)

Note 1: Masssachusetts is listed by some pro-English groups as an official English state, based upon a 1975 law. English First has been unable to find any documentation of this law. In 1971, Massachusettts became the first state to mandate bilingual education, a mandate repealed by a 2002 statewide referedum.

Note 2: Four "English Plus" states have at least two official languages: NEW MEXICO (1989), OREGON (1989), RHODE ISLAND, and WASHINGTON STATE. These four states are not counted here for the same reason Canada, with its two official languages, is not considered a one-language country.

1. ALABAMA (1990)

Constitution

90% of the vote in referendum

Law challenged as part of the Sandoval case. On April 24, 2001, the U.S. Supreme Court reversed a lower court decision blocking enforcement of the law.

2. ALASKA (1998)

Initiative

69% of the vote in referendum

Overturned in district court, March 27, 2002.

3. ARIZONA (2006),(1988)

Constitution

74% vote in referendum (2006); 51% vote in referendum (1988)

Overturned in district court. On March 3, 1997. the Supreme Court refused to reinstate the law, stating controversy was "moot."

4. ARKANSAS (1987)

Statute

5. CALIFORNIA (1986)

Constitution

73% vote in referendum

6. COLORADO (1988)

Constitution

61% vote in referendum

7. FLORIDA (1988)

Constitution

84% vote in referendum

8. GEORGIA (1986)

Statute

9. HAWAII (1978)

Constitutional amendment (1978)

10. IDAHO (2007)

Statute

10. ILLINOIS (1969)

Statute

11. INDIANA (1984)

Statute

12. IOWA (2002)

Statute

13. KANSAS (2007)

Statute

14. KENTUCKY (1984)

Statute

15. LOUISIANA (1811)

Statute

16. MISSISSIPPI (1987)

Statute

17. MISSOURI (1998)

Statute

18. MONTANA (1995)

Statute

19. NEBRASKA (1920)

Constitution

20. NEW HAMPSHIRE (1995)

Statute

21. NORTH CAROLINA (1987)

Statute

22. NORTH DAKOTA (1987)

Statute

23. SOUTH CAROLINA (1987)

Statute

24. SOUTH DAKOTA (1995)

Statute

25. TENNESSEE (1984)

Statute

26. UTAH (2000)

67% of the vote in referendum. Upheld in a 2001 court decision. English First covered the referendum campaign.

27. VIRGINIA (1986)

Statute

28. WYOMING (1996)

Statute

Last modified: May 14, 2007