PRIA Logo™
119-s-3974119th CongressWALLET

Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Senator Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]

Introduced

Summary

Uniform accessibility standards for web content and applications to make websites and software usable by people with disabilities across employment, public services, testing, and public-facing commerce. The Act sets deadlines for rules, creates enforcement tools, and funds technical help and standards coordination.

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.

Web and app access for people with disabilities

If enacted, the bill would require covered entities to make websites and apps accessible. It would define "accessible" to mean perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust. Covered entities include employers, public entities, public businesses, and testing organizations. The main access rules would start 12 months after enactment while the coverage and definitions would take effect 6 months after enactment.

Enforcement, private lawsuits, and legal defenses

If enacted, the Attorney General and the Commission would be able to investigate accessibility complaints and sue in federal court. Qualified individuals could also sue in State or Federal court without first filing with the Commission. Courts could award damages and reasonable attorneys' fees to prevailing plaintiffs. Entities could raise "undue burden" or "fundamental alteration" defenses. The bill would bar rules that require a person to give pre-suit notice, and agencies must post settlement documents within six months after the final rules.

Rule timelines, phase-in, and reporting

If enacted, the Attorney General and the Commission would have to publish proposed accessibility rules within 12 months and final rules within 24 months. The Attorney General's final rule would give small entities three years to comply and others 30 days. The Commission's employment rule would give small entities two years and others 30 days. Agencies must update accessibility rules every three years. The Act would take effect six months after enactment and section 4's access rules would start twelve months after enactment. Federal agencies must report complaints for the first three years and then every two years.

Grants, technical help, and provider requirements

If enacted, the bill would authorize $35,150,000 a year for fiscal years 2027–2036 to support rulemaking, technical assistance, grants, and studies. The Attorney General would competitively fund at least one technical assistance center to provide training and procurement help. Small entities could get grants up to $10,000 each for up to five years to audit, test, fix, or buy accessible content; applicants must show they are small and have a remediation plan. Commercial providers would be barred from supplying inaccessible websites or apps for covered uses starting 12 months after enactment. The bill would also create an advisory committee with a majority of members who have disabilities and require a National Council on Disability study to Congress five years after enactment.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]

IL • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 3/3/2026

  • Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 3/3/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
Back to Legislation