# 119-hr-5605: Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act of 2025

119-hr-5605, Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act of 2025, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9] (D-IL); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-5605
- As of: 2026-10-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-5605
- Congress: 119
- Title: Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act of 2025
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-09-26
- Sponsor: Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9] (D-IL)
- Cosponsors: 27
- Policy area: Health
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-10-21

## Summary

**This bill would create a new** **nonvisual accessibility standard** for certain Class II and III medical devices with digital user interfaces used outside clinical settings. It would require manufacturers to make device screens and apps usable for blind or low-vision people and allow a waiver for undue hardship or fundamental alteration. - People who are blind or have low vision would get greater access to information, interactions, and privacy when using covered home-use devices through interfaces designed for comparable independence and ease of use. - Manufacturers of affected devices would need to meet the standard or obtain a Secretary-approved waiver for "fundamental alteration" or "undue hardship." The agency must also provide training and consult the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board and blind or low-vision individuals on the standard and compliance guidance. - The bill makes devices that do not meet the standard or lack an approved waiver "adulterated" under section 501, giving the agency enforcement authority, and sets a rulemaking timetable that would require proposed regulations within 1 year and a final rule within 2 years.

## Cosponsors (27)

- Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2] (R-NE), 2025-09-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bishop, Sanford D. [D-GA-2] (D-GA), 2025-09-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6] (D-IL), 2025-09-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1] (R-PA), 2025-09-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4] (D-IL), 2025-09-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] (D-DC), 2025-09-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19] (D-CA), 2025-09-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2] (D-WI), 2025-09-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5] (D-IL), 2025-09-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Rutherford, John H. [R-FL-5] (R-FL), 2025-09-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Sessions, Pete [R-TX-17] (R-TX), 2025-09-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Smith, Adam [D-WA-9] (D-WA), 2025-09-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5] (D-CT), 2025-10-06T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2] (D-MN), 2025-10-06T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8] (D-MA), 2025-10-06T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20] (D-NY), 2026-10-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2] (D-NC), 2026-03-16T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Walkinshaw, James R. [D-VA-11] (D-VA), 2026-03-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37] (D-TX), 2026-04-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McClellan, Jennifer L. [D-VA-4] (D-VA), 2026-04-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10] (D-FL), 2026-04-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8] (D-MD), 2026-04-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McBath, Lucy [D-GA-6] (D-GA), 2026-05-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Latimer, George [D-NY-16] (D-NY), 2026-06-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Auchincloss, Jake [D-MA-4] (D-MA), 2026-08-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2] (D-MA), 2026-08-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12] (D-CA), 2026-08-31T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Accessible medical devices for blind and low-vision: benefit, medium. If enacted, certain home-use Class II and III medical devices with screens or apps would need to work as well for blind or low-vision users as for sighted users. This would cover devices cleared or approved after the rule’s effective date, and not those meant only for providers or only outside the…
- Timeline and training for accessible medical devices: mixed, medium. If enacted, the Secretary would propose rules within 1 year of enactment and issue a final rule within 2 years. The final rule would take effect 1 year after it is published. The Secretary would train device makers on the standard and how to comply. The Secretary would consult the federal accessibi…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-8800: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027
- 119-hr-1993: 25th Anniversary of 9/11 Commemorative Coin Act
- 119-hr-1262: Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act
- 119-hr-2550: Protect America's Workforce Act
- 119-hr-2048: Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act
- 119-hr-1661: SAFE Act of 2025

## Sources
- [119-hr-5605 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/5605)

## Related
- [119-hr-8800: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-8800)
- [119-hr-1993: 25th Anniversary of 9/11 Commemorative Coin Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1993)
- [119-hr-1262: Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1262)
- [119-hr-2550: Protect America's Workforce Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2550)
- [119-hr-2048: Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2048)
- [119-hr-1661: SAFE Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1661)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-5605 (as of 2026-10-21).