Despite the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) more than 30 years ago, much work remains to be done to ensure easy and safe physical access for all. The evidence lies in the bills and resolutions introduced thus far in state legislatures from Hawaii to New Jersey. At the Federal level, two bills and resolutions regarding the disabled have also been introduced.
In the states, pending bills focus on requiring adherence to the ADA, appropriating funds to modify public spaces for disability accommodations and amending procurement regulations regarding accessibility requirements in contracts. Resolutions proposed in the US Congress and states recommit to promoting and ensuring disability rights. A US House bill dubbed the ACCESS Act calls for the development of a program to educate State and local governments and property owners on “effective and efficient strategies for promoting access to public accommodations for persons with a disability.
We are only halfway through the legislative year, so check back here regularly for updates on the bills listed below or new bills introduced.
| > STATE BILLS | > FEDERAL BILLS | |
| New Jersey S1086 Requires managed care plans to provide for reasonable accommodation in accessing providers with physically accessible offices for persons with physical disabilities. STATUS: No Action https://legiscan.com/NJ/bill/S1086/2022 CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATOR |
Concurrent Resolution USSCR29 – Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee Recognizes the need to improve physical access to many federally funded facilities for all people of the United States, particularly people with disabilities. STATUS: No Action https://legiscan.com/gaits/search?state=US&bill=CR29 CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATOR |
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| Illinois SB3446 – Senate Assignments Committee Amends the Environmental Barriers Act. Creates an ADA Compliance Commission to review any plan or design submitted for accommodations to meet ADA-compliant access in housing, public venues, parks, transit, or any other locations. Will establish best practices guidelines for compliance with the ADA. STATUS: No Action https://legiscan.com/IL/bill/SB3446/2021 CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATOR |
Concurrent Resolution HCR73 – House Subcommittee on Economic Development Language is identical to the Senate Resolution. STATUS: No Action https://legiscan.com/gaits/search?state=US&bill=CR29 CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATOR |
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| Minnesota SB3769 – Capital Investment Committee A bill for an act relating to capital investment; appropriating money for capital improvements to bring public right-of-way facilities in compliance with ADA requirements; authorizing the sale and issuance of state bonds. STATUS: Died in Committee https://legiscan.com/MN/bill/SF3769/2021 CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATOR |
HR 2941—Accessible Voting Act While this bill recognizes that only 40% of polling places in 2016 were architecturally accessible, a significant portion of the bill focuses on compelling states to offer accessible websites. In Part 7, Payments to States for Implementation of Accessibility Requirements, Federal monies may be dispensed at the discretion of the Director of the Office of Accessibility (created in this Act). Provision of funds for physical access alterations would be eligible to states and local governments that apply and are approved by the Director. STATUS: No Action https://legiscan.com/US/text/HB2941/2021 CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATOR |
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| Massachusetts SB 1699 – Senate Ways and Means The Massachusetts Architectural Access Board shall make and from time to time alter, amend, repeal rules and regulations designed to make multiple dwellings, and public buildings and facilities, including, but not limited to areas that are not generally in public use, accessible to, functional for and safe for use by persons with disabilities. STATUS: Replaced by Senate Bill 2679; sent to Committee on Senate Rules https://legiscan.com/MA/bill/S1629/2021 CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATOR |
SB 2481 (HB 4714 Companion Bill) Increases the tax credit for expenditures to provide access to disabled individuals from $10,250 to $20,500. Increases the gross receipts limitation from $1 million to $2.5 million.Increases the tax credit for expenditures to provide access to disabled individuals from $10,250 to $20,500. Increases the gross receipts limitation from $1 million to $2.5 million. STATUS: No Action https://legiscan.com/US/bill/SB2481/2021 CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATOR |
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| New York AB9472 – Assembly Aging Committee Establishes the senior housing accessibility study group to examine and make recommendations for amending the New York State uniform fire prevention code to improve and enhance accessibility requirements for all newly constructed or substantially reconstructed senior housing developments. STATUS: No Action https://legiscan.com/NY/bill/A09472/2021 CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATOR |
HB 77 – ADA Compliance for Customer Entry to Stores and Services Act (ACCESS ACT) Would require the development of educational programs targeted to state and local governments and property owners as to effective and efficient strategies for promoting access to public accommodations for persons with disabilities. STATUS: No Action https://legiscan.com/US/bill/HB77/2021 CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATOR |
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| HB 3317 – All Station Accessibility Program Act Proposes to provide competitive grants to assist state and local government authorities in addressing accessibility needs of legacy rail stations. Federal grants will amount to 90% of the total net cost for modifications to station facilities. STATUS: No Action https://legiscan.com/US/bill/HB3317/2021 CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATOR |