Rep. Sessions Introduces Bill to Mandate Accessibility Standards for All Business and Government Websites
Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act of 2025
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- This bill requires all websites and mobile apps used by employers, government agencies, and businesses to be fully accessible to people with disabilities. It covers job applications, government services, online shopping, and any digital interaction with the public.
From policy text
“No individual shall be discriminated against on the basis of disability in the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations, or information related to such goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations”
View in full text - The Department of Justice and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission must create accessibility standards within 24 months of enactment. Non-small entities must comply 30 days after the final rule, while small entities get 2-3 extra years to prepare.
From policy text
“Not later than 24 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Attorney General shall issue, for purposes of section 4, a final rule regarding the accessibility of web content and applications”
View in full text - The bill makes clear that ADA protections apply to all websites and apps, even those of businesses with no physical location. This resolves a split among courts over whether online-only businesses are covered by public accommodation rules.
From policy text
“Section 302's coverage is not limited to physical places. Section 302 covers all websites and applications of public accommodations, regardless of whether the public accommodation is a physical place or regardless of the relationship between a website or application and a physical place.”
View in full text - People with disabilities can sue businesses or agencies that violate the law without having to notify them first. Winners can recover compensatory and punitive damages plus attorney's fees.
From policy text
“The Attorney General and the Commission shall not include, in the accessibility regulations, any requirement that an individual shall notify a covered entity or commercial provider of an allegation of a violation of this Act prior to commencing a civil action under this Act.”
View in full text - Small businesses can get grants of up to $10,000 to fix or replace inaccessible websites and apps. The bill also funds a national technical assistance center to help businesses and developers meet the new standards.
From policy text
“the recipient of the award under section 9 (relating to a technical assistance center), in coordination with the Attorney General and the Commission, shall award grants, in amounts not to exceed $10,000, to small entities to support auditing, testing, and remediating inaccessible web content or applications”
View in full text - The bill authorizes $35.15 million per year for ten years (2026-2035) and requires the government to update accessibility regulations every three years to keep pace with new technology.
From policy text
“There are authorized to be appropriated $35,150,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2035 to carry out this Act.”
View in full text
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
Milestones
Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Introduced in House
What Happens Next
Projected impacts based on AI analysis
Core accessibility requirements take effect for covered entities and commercial providers
Businesses, government agencies, and web developers become legally obligated to ensure their websites and apps are accessible to people with disabilities, 12 months after enactment. This is when the right to sue kicks in, though detailed technical standards may still be in development.
Final accessibility rules issued by DOJ and EEOC; most entities must comply within 30 days
Detailed technical standards become law within 24 months of enactment. Non-small businesses and government agencies must comply almost immediately. Small businesses get 2-3 additional years to come into compliance, depending on the type of entity.
Small entity compliance deadline arrives; grants program winds down
Small businesses and small entities must be fully compliant with accessibility standards, ending the extended grace period. The 5-year grant program for small entities to fix their websites also begins to wrap up around this time.
Related Bills
1 billSource Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act of 2025
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
(9)Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.