What to Know about U.S. Website Accessibility Laws by State

Here’s What to Know about U.S. Website Accessibility Laws by State

Website accessibility laws in the United States are influenced by both federal and state legislation. While federal law sets certain baseline standards, states can enact their own rules to further enforce government agencies to comply.

Here’s an overview of the digital accessibility laws in the U.S.

Federal Website Accessibility Laws

In the U.S., there are a few federal laws that ensure websites and its digital content are accessible to visitors with disabilities.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): Prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities and requires all public places to be accessible, including websites and mobile apps.

• • Title I covers employers with 15+ employees (employment, not customer-facing websites).
  • Title II covers state/local governments.
  • Title III covers public accommodations (businesses open to the public, including websites).

Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973: Applies to federal agencies and is designed to ensure that electronic and information technology (EIT), such as websites, software, and online documents, is accessible to individuals with disabilities.

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG): While the WCAG isn’t necessarily a law, it’s a widely recognized set of guidelines that covers essential aspects of digital accessibility. It provides recommendations for making web content more accessible to people with auditory, cognitive, motor, and visual disabilities. This includes text alternatives for images, keyboard navigation, and ensuring content is perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust for all users.

• • There are three levels of conformance: A (minimum), AA (mid-range), and AAA (highest). Most laws and policies focus on Level AA as the standard.

State-Specific Digital Accessibility Laws & Policies

1. Arizona

The Arizona Department of Administration developed a statewide policy that lowers the technical barriers to accessibility on Arizona websites for people with disabilities. This tells state agencies what websites should include, such as color contrast, accessible downloadable files, keyboard control, text-only versions, and more.

2. Arkansas

Arkansas has a state law called Act 1227, which was enacted in 1999 and requires all Arkansas government agencies to have accessible websites for blind and visually impaired visitors to have an equal experience.

3. California

California has several accessibility regulations, including:

• California Government Code Section 11135: prohibits discrimination on a variety of grounds, including disability. It specifically applies to any program or activity that is administered by a state agency or an entity that receives funding from the state.
• California Government Code Section 11545.7: requires state agencies to publish a certification of compliance with accessibility standards on their website every two years.
• California Government Code Section 7405: This tells all state government entities to follow Section 508’s accessibility requirements.
• The Unruh Civil Rights Act: an anti-discrimination law that protects Californians from discrimination by businesses. It applies to websites and all businesses that sell products or services to customers living in California, even if the business is physically located in another state. Businesses that don’t comply may be fined a minimum of $4,000.

4. Colorado

Colorado passed the House Bill 21-1110 on July 1, 2024, establishing state-specific digital accessibility requirements. This law mandates that all digital content from state government and higher education institutions be accessible to individuals with disabilities. Non-compliance may result in penalties, including monetary damages or a $3,500 fine.

Click here to read EcomBack’s blog, which explains the House Bill in more detail.

5. Connecticut

Connecticut has a Universal Website Accessibility policy aimed at ensuring state websites follow WCAG standards, including using headings, consistent structure, plain backgrounds, and text transcriptions for videos, among other design elements.

6. Delaware

Delaware has a Digital Accessibility Policy that mandates all Delaware agencies ensure accessibility for all digital information and conform to the WCAG 2.1 Level AA.

7. Georgia

Georgia is among the many states that require state entities to follow WCAG requirements.

8. Idaho

Idaho has developed Web Publishing Guidelines specifically tailored for state agencies. These guidelines ensure that all state agencies adhere to best practices in digital accessibility.

9. Illinois

The Illinois Information Technology Accessibility Act (IITAA) is based on Section 508 and WCAG standards. It applies to State of Illinois governmental entities, including executive, legislative, and judicial branches, constitutional offices, and public universities.

10. Indiana

Indiana’s state code, Code 4-13.1-3, reinforces Section 508 and requires all state websites to be accessible.

11. Iowa

The Iowa Department of Management has a Website Accessibility Standard, which tells all Iowa agencies, boards or commissions, and contractors for the state that they must maintain accessible websites for employees and members of the public with disabilities.

12. Kansas

Kansas has its Information Technology Executive Council (ITEC) Policy, which ensures that state entities and third parties for the state follow the WCAG 2.0, the ADA, and Section 508.

13. Kentucky

Kentucky’s Accessible Information Technology (AIT) law, passed in April 2000, requires that digital information, online services, apps, and websites maintained by state and state-assisted entities comply with Section 508.

14. Louisiana

The Louisiana Office of Technology Services (OTS) cites WCAG 2.2 and Section 508 as standards the state follows.

15. Maine

Maine’s Digital Accessibility and Usability Policy mandates that all state digital information and services must comply with WCAG 2.0 Level AA.

16. Maryland

Maryland’s Information Technology Nonvisual Access Regulatory Standards follow Section 508 guidelines. This ensures every Marylander gets equal access to state information technology and online services.

17. Massachusetts

Massachusetts updated its Enterprise Information Technology Accessibility Policy in 2021, requiring that executive branch agencies comply with Section 508 and the ADA.

18. Michigan

Michigan also adopted the WCAG 2.1 Level AA as its standard for digital accessibility.

19. Minnesota

Minnesota recently updated its Digital Accessibility Standard in July 2024 to include WCAG 2.1 Level AA. It continues to be based on Section 508, which ensures the state develops its information, websites, and digital content to be compatible with assistive technologies.

20. Missouri

Missouri has the law RSMo. 161.935, which has been in effect since 1999. This law mandates all state agencies to ensure their information technology is accessible.

21. Montana

Montana’s state code is 18-5-605, which is in accordance with the WCAG and ensures that all state agencies offer IT access to individuals who are blind or have visual impairments.

22. Nebraska

Nebraska’s Accessibility Policy was adopted in 2001. It was amended in 2019 to include WCAG 2.1.

23. Nevada

Nevada has accessibility guidelines that apply to all state government entities and require them to comply with Sections 508 and WCAG 2.1.

24. New Hampshire

According to New Hampshire’s government website, its Web Accessibility Policy and Standards show its commitment to ensuring all agencies make their digital resources accessible to all users, including those with disabilities.

25. New Jersey

New Jersey has a bill, NJ A4856, that establishes accessibility standards for the websites and online services of public schools. It requires every public school to comply with the WCAG 2.1 Level AA.

26. New York

New York has a policy called the Accessibility of Information Communication Technology, which adopts WCAG and requires state entities to make applications and websites accessible to all users.

Additionally, New York has the Senate Bill S3114A, first introduced in 2021. Similarly, this bill mandates that all state agencies conform their websites to the WCAG.

27. North Carolina

North Carolina’s Digital Accessibility and Usability Standard offers guidance for state agencies to design and develop websites and digital services with the aim of providing an equal, user-friendly experience to citizens in the state. As with most U.S. states, the WCAG 2.1 is used as the accessibility standard.

28. Ohio

Ohio is among the recent states to bring a digital accessibility policy (IT-09) into effect. As of January 10, 2025, the policy mandates all Ohio agencies to comply with the WCAG 2.0 Level AA, ensuring web content and mobile applications that are made available to the public are accessible.

29. Oklahoma

Oklahoma passed the Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Law (EITA) in 2004, which follows Section 508 rules. It was updated in 2020 to include WCAG standards.

30. Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania’s Information Technology Policy (ITP-ACC001) provides direction for all state government agencies to design accessible digital content and services in compliance with Section 508 standards and the WCAG.

31. Texas

Texas has its Web Accessibility Standards, which are based on the Section 508 standards. It also includes additional criteria for webcasts, applets, and plug-ins (including Acrobat PDF and PowerPoint), which all must support assistive technologies.

There’s also the Texas Administrative Code (TAC), which was adopted in 2020 and requires state government and higher education institution websites to be accessible.

32. Utah

Utah’s code 63A-16-209 addresses accessibility standards for executive branch agencies and requires information technology, including websites and software, to conform with the WCAG. It also requires agencies to include an accessibility protocol and test their websites to ensure they adhere to these standards.

33. Virginia

The Information Technology Access Act (ITAA) and the Virginia Information Technology Accessibility Standard both require that every state agency and institution of higher education comply with Section 508 and WCAG 2.0 Level AA standards.

34. Washington

Washington’s USER-01 Accessibility Policy gives state agencies until July 1, 2029, to ensure technology is accessible to users with disabilities. It also requires agencies to have accessibility policies and IT accessibility plans, as well as mandates annual accessibility training.

Please note: Most of the state-level accessibility laws and policies in the U.S. apply only to state agencies, public schools, or public universities (sometimes also to state contractors). They typically do not impose direct obligations on private businesses.

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Pro Tip for Businesses

Even if your state doesn’t have a law targeting private companies, you’re still covered by the ADA nationwide. California’s Unruh Act makes the risk even higher, since it applies to all businesses and allows $4,000 per violation in damages. Wherever you operate, following WCAG 2.1 AA is the safest way to lower lawsuit risk, win contracts, and show your commitment to accessibility.

How State Accessibility Laws Apply to Businesses

One of the most common questions is whether state website accessibility laws apply directly to private businesses. The answer depends on the state: most laws were written for government agencies, but there are important exceptions and indirect effects businesses should understand.

• Federal ADA Title III already applies nationwide to all businesses considered “public accommodations,” which courts increasingly interpret to include websites.
• State laws generally focus on government entities, but some extend obligations to vendors and contractors that do business with the state.
• A few states, most notably California, extend accessibility requirements to all businesses, regardless of whether they contract with the state.

Here’s a breakdown:

Bottom Line for Businesses

Even if your state doesn’t have a specific accessibility law for private companies, ADA Title III still applies nationwide. In California, the Unruh Act amplifies the risk by applying to all businesses and adding statutory damages. In states where laws apply to contractors, any business providing digital services to the government must comply. Everywhere else, the trend in state policy points to WCAG 2.1 AA as the de facto standard — making proactive compliance the safest path for all businesses.

EcomBack Helps You Stay Informed

For anyone navigating digital accessibility, understanding both federal and state-specific laws is crucial. This ensures that individuals with disabilities can fully participate in society, enjoying equal opportunities and protections in all aspects of life, from public spaces to housing and employment.

If you need further details about any specific state’s laws or need help navigating a particular area of accessibility, feel free to contact EcomBack at sales@ecomback.com or 818-839-8888.