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Congress·In Committee·S. 3974

Sen. Duckworth Introduces Bill to Require All Business and Government Websites to be Accessible

Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act of 2026

17 days ago·View on Congress.gov

Legislative Progress

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Key Points

  • This bill requires all websites and mobile apps used by employers, government agencies, and businesses open to the public to be fully accessible to people with disabilities. It covers job applications, government services, online shopping, and any digital tool used to interact with the public.

    From policy text

    “No employment entity shall subject to discrimination, related to web content or an application owned, operated, or utilized for covered use by the employment entity, an individual with a disability in regard to an activity described in section 102 of the ADA”
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  • The bill settles a legal debate by declaring that ADA protections apply to the digital world, including online-only businesses with no physical location. Some courts had ruled the ADA only covers physical places, but this bill explicitly rejects that interpretation.

    From policy text

    “The coverage of section 302 of the ADA is not limited to physical places. Section 302 of the ADA covers all web content and applications of public accommodations, regardless of whether the public accommodation is a physical place”
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  • Software developers and web design companies that build digital products for covered businesses or government would also be legally responsible for making those products accessible. They could face lawsuits if they deliver inaccessible websites or apps.

    From policy text

    “No commercial provider shall design, develop, construct, alter, modify, or add to any web content or an application for a covered entity for covered use in a manner that results in the content or application not being accessible”
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  • Small businesses get extra time and financial help to comply. They would receive up to 3 years after the final rules are issued (instead of 30 days for larger entities) and could apply for grants of up to $10,000 to fix their websites and apps.

    From policy text

    “shall award grants, in amounts not to exceed $10,000, to small entities to support auditing, testing, and remediating inaccessible web content or applications or to support procurement of accessible web content and applications”
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  • People with disabilities could sue for damages and attorney's fees without first notifying the company or going through an administrative process. The DOJ and EEOC would set and enforce the specific technical standards, updating them every 3 years.
  • The bill authorizes $35.15 million per year for 10 years (fiscal years 2027-2036) to fund technical assistance, grants to small businesses, enforcement, and periodic reviews of whether the law is working.

    From policy text

    “There are authorized to be appropriated $35,150,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2036 to carry out this Act.”
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Civil RightsTechnology DigitalLabor Employment

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions
Mar 3, 2026Senate

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Mar 3, 2026

Introduced in Senate

Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act of 2026

Bill NumberS 3974
Congress119th Congress
ChamberSenate
Latest ActionRead twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(2)
D: 2

Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.