A bill before the California legislature could soon require certain retail dealers and professionals to provide translations of contracts and other documents for the benefit of the English-challenged public. In New York City, the Language Access Law is already in effect and calls for city agencies to provide translations in any of 171 languages.

It's a move in the right direction. For decades, immigrants with little English ability (but no less intelligent for it) have had trouble accessing public services and are frequently preyed upon by unscrupulous salesmen who coerce them into signing contracts they can't understand. Under the 14th Amendment, equal protection under the law serves everyone, not just those who can speak English. So this really isn't imposing an entirely new regulation on business and local government. It's just enforcing the equal protection rights of all Americans new and old.