SB1014 requires the Oregon secretary of state to allow translated versions of statements of arguments submitted by political parties to be included in the state voters’ pamphlet on the secretary of state’s and county websites. This means that when a party files a statement advocating for its principles or candidates, it can also file translations in one of the five most commonly spoken languages in Oregon (other than English) for publication online.

The Oregon State Senate passed SB1014 on April 28, 2025 by a vote of 27 to 2. We have assigned pluses to the nays because this bill undermines America’s shared civic culture by promoting official multilingual political messaging rather than reinforcing English as the common language of self-government. Executive Order 14224, issued by President Donald Trump on March 1, 2025, correctly affirms that “from the founding of our Republic, English has been used as our national language,” and that the nation’s governing documents—including the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution—were written in English. By mandating translated political materials in official election publications, Oregon lawmakers weaken the unifying role of a common language in civic life. If “We the People of the United States” are to “secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity,” states should strengthen—not dilute—the linguistic foundation of republican government by designating and preserving English as the sole official language of public governance.