Next year, this Indiana town will require closed captions on TVs in public spaces

If you're watching the game at a bar or HGTV at the dentist, sometimes the closed captions are on. In Bloomington, that'll now be required by law, The Herald-Times reported.

The city council in the south-central Indiana community recently passed a law that requires public places to leave closed captions on, with the goal of making the community more inclusive for people with hearing loss. But others could benefit: Many millennial and Gen Z viewers already prefer watching with subtitles.

Read the full story:About Bloomington's closed captioning law

Which businesses in Bloomington will be required to use closed captioning?

The new law affects bars, doctors' offices, restaurants, big-box stores, banks, hotels, bowling alleys, pool halls, hospitals and hair salons, among other public places.

Why is the closed caption law necessary?

The Americans with Disabilities Act already requires "places of public accommodation" to turn on closed captions upon request. But one council member said requiring closed caption permanently be on by city ordinance is a "more equitable remedy."

When does Bloomington's closed caption law go into effect?

In January 2025, to give the city time to inform the affected businesses.

How is the community reacting to the closed caption law?

The Herald-Times spoke to owners of two downtown bars who said the new law won't be a problem. One patron complained that the closed captions cover too much of the screen and said he doesn't think the government should be able to make such a demand. Read more here.

Read the full text of Bloomington's new closed caption ordinance

Herald-Times reporter Boris Ladwig contributed to this report.