Feds Standardize Changing Stations for All Ages and Abilities
Published Date: 2/18/2026
Proposed Rule
Summary
The government is working on new rules to make universal changing stations easier to use for everyone, including people with disabilities. These rules will cover how the stations and their rooms should be private, clean, and accessible. Businesses and public places will need to follow these standards once finalized, and the public can share their thoughts by April 20, 2026.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Airport Grant Rule: One Changing Room Per Terminal
Beginning in fiscal year 2030, medium and large hub airports applying for airport development grants must provide written assurance that they will install or maintain at least 1 private single room with a universal changing station in each passenger terminal building. This requirement comes from the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 and applies to airport grant applicants starting in fiscal year 2030.
New Technical Standards for Changing Tables
The Access Board will develop technical accessibility standards for universal changing tables covering the table surface (size, weight capacity, height adjustability, maneuvering clearances, and side rails) and may incorporate section 613.4 of ICC A117.1-2017 with Supplement 1 by reference or create a federal standard drawn from ADA/ABA guidelines. Once finalized, businesses and public facilities that must follow the rule will need to purchase or install tables that meet those technical criteria.
Considering Continuous Height Adjustability
The Access Board is considering requiring a universal changing table surface that is continuously adjustable within a specified height range. Existing federal Medical Diagnostic Equipment (MDE) standards specify adjustment from 17 inches to 25 inches with at least four additional 1-inch incremental positions, while ICC A117.1-2017 requires adjustability from 17 inches to 38 inches without specifying incremental heights. The Board seeks comments on the best approach.
Room Privacy, Sanitation, and Equipment Standards
The Board will set standards for the rooms that house universal changing tables addressing privacy, accessibility, and sanitation equipment. The Board may require elements such as a toilet, sink, soap dispenser, hand towel dispenser, waste receptacle, coat hook, bench or seating, a counter, and a lockable door, or incorporate A117.1-2017 Section 613.2.1 by reference.
Rule Scope Limited to Airport Grant-Related Locations
The Access Board states the forthcoming regulation will be limited to providing technical accessibility standards for the universal changing tables required by the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 and will not seek to require universal changing tables in other places or circumstances beyond that statutory scope.
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this federal register document means for your household, plus every other regulation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-15782, Revision of Freedom of Information Act Regulations
The Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (Access Board or Board) is issuing this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to update its regulations under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The Board proposes to replace its existing FOIA regulations with this proposed rule, which streamlines the language of several procedural provisions; updates procedures consistent with current technology; incorporates changes required by amendments to the FOIA under the OPEN Government Act of 2007 and the FOIA Improvement Act of 2016, and developments in case law; and conforms to Department of Justice guidelines for agency FOIA regulations.
2026-10508, Proposed Renewal of Information Collection; OMB Control Number 3014-0012, Online Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) Complaint Form
The Access Board wants to keep using its online complaint form for reporting accessibility problems at public places for three more years. This affects anyone who spots barriers that make buildings hard to use and wants to file a complaint easily online. Comments on this plan are open until July 27, 2026, and there’s no new cost involved—just a smooth way to keep voices heard!
2026-16773, Proposed Renewal of Information Collection; OMB Control Number 3014-2012; Online Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) Complaint Form
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (Access Board) has submitted the following request for renewal of information collection request titled "Online ABA Complaint Form" to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for its review and approval. The Access Board invites comment on its "Online Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) Complaint Form." (OMB Control No. 3014-0012). The purpose of this information collection is to provide a standardized method for members of the public to file ABA complaints with the Access Board. The information collection is scheduled to expire on October 31, 2026, and we propose to continue using the instrument for an additional three years.
2025-21884, Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission of Proposed Information Collection; Online Training Request Form for OMB Review
The Access Board is asking for approval to start a new online form that lets people and local governments easily request training. This change makes it simpler to get help and doesn’t cost anyone extra. You can share your thoughts on this plan until January 5, 2026.
2025-21836, Performance Review Board Membership
The Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board just named new members to its Performance Review Board, which checks how well senior executives are doing their jobs. Since the board is small, it brought in experts from other federal agencies to help out. This update affects senior leaders and keeps the review process fair and fresh, with no changes to pay or timing announced.
2026-17767, Promoting Telehealth in Rural America
In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) seeks comments on the scope of the similar service and rural area comparability requirements, comments on possible improvements to, or replacements of, our existing cost study method of determining rural telecommunications rates, comments on possible methods of promoting the use of lower-cost technologies intended to provide backup services, comments on a proposal to establish an eligible services list for the Rural Health Care (RHC) Program, comments on whether to adopt performance metrics to expedite the processing of RHC Program funding requests, and comments on whether to eliminate the approval requirement of evergreen contracts and an annual report requirement.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-03159, General Policy for Pricing and Charging for Materials and Services Sold by the Department of Energy
The Department of Energy is updating how it sets prices for materials and services sold to people and organizations outside the government. This change clarifies rules, updates definitions, and adjusts special pricing to keep things fair and clear. If you want to share your thoughts, make sure to comment by April 20, 2026, because these updates could affect costs and how you buy from DOE.
Next: 2026-03220, Clean Water Act Hazardous Substance Facility Response Plans; Amendment Reconsideration
The EPA is asking for your thoughts on updating rules for hazardous substance spill plans to make them clearer and easier to follow. These changes affect facilities that handle dangerous chemicals near water and aim to protect people and the environment without adding extra hassle. You’ve got until March 20, 2026, to share your ideas before any new rules are proposed.