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Justice Department Signals Possible Changes to ADA Web Accessibility Rule
As the first compliance deadline approaches for larger cities, federal regulators are reviewing the rule and considering potential modifications, though a full repeal appears unlikely.
In April 2024, the Department of Justice (DOJ) published the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Title II Web and Mobile Application Accessibility Rule that includes technical requirements your city must follow to ensure your websites and mobile applications are accessible to people with disabilities. The deadline to comply with the rule is April 24, 2026, for cities with a population above 50,000, and for cities with a population below 50,000 the deadline is April 26, 2027.
Learn more about the federal website accessibility rule.
As the first compliance deadline for the federal web accessibility rule approaches in April for cities with a population of 50,000 or more, the DOJ has indicated it plans to issue an interim final rule and revisit parts of the regulation. The department has previously said it intends to reconsider whether certain provisions can be modified to reduce implementation costs.
The League of Minnesota Cities (LMC), along with the National League of Cities (NLC), is exploring options for relief. Those options include potential tailored exemptions for very small jurisdictions and adjustments to technical requirements. The recommendations mirror comments LMC submitted to the DOJ in 2023 when the rule was initially under consideration.
View LMC’s comments on the proposed website accessibility rule (pdf).
The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) is reviewing the interim final rule. The League and NLC are planning to meet with OIRA to present feedback and supporting information.
How you can help
NLC is seeking examples of compliance costs with the ADA rule as soon as possible. Cities willing to share cost information may complete NLC’s compliance cost collection form. City names are not required. Submissions may be listed as “sample city,” provided the population size is included. No city names or identifying information will be shared with OIRA. All data will be grouped and reported by population range.