OLYMPIA – A bill requiring Washington movie theaters to provide open captioning options for movie screenings passed the Senate Tuesday. The Americans with Disabilities Act requires movie theaters to provide viewers with closed captioning devices upon request, but they currently do not have to display subtitles on the main screen for any film screenings. Senate Bill 5486, sponsored by Sen. Tina Orwall (D-Des Moines), improves accessibility in movie theaters by requiring those that charge admission to offer both closed and open captioning options for viewers. “People in the deaf and hard of hearing community often feel excluded from going to the movies because theaters don’t have open captioning or reliable closed captioning devices,” Orwall said. “This bill is about inclusion and ...
Read MoreAbout Sen. Orwall
Tina has represented the 33rd district since 2009 and has led efforts on rape kit reform, suicide prevention, anti-trafficking laws, consumer protections, language access in schools, air quality and other issues critical to South King County.
She was appointed to the Washington State Senate in 2024 after serving 15 years in the House of Representatives. She has worked with all levels of government to help embrace best practices to better serve the community. Her 20 years of experience working in the public mental health system, as well as her expertise in strategic planning in workforce development and affordable housing have established her as a valued legislator and community leader.
Read Sen. Orwall’s full biography here.