ADA Title II Final Rule Update

​​Updated Federal Legislation

On April 24, 2024, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) announced new rules to make websites and mobile apps accessible for people with disabilities.

Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) mandates that by April 24, 2026, State and local governments meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA guidelines to ensure their online services are accessible to people with disabilities.

What’s Covered

The DOJ wants state and local governments to prioritize websites and apps that provide access to current information and services. This applies to both websites maintained directly by government staff and sites maintained by third-party vendors.

Old digital content will not be expected to change to meet these standards unless specifically requested by someone who needs the information to be in an alternative format.

Exceptions

Limited exemptions exist for:

• older web content
• content posted by third parties
• content protected by a password, or
• content specific to individuals (a bill, for example).

However, the digital platform for accessing these materials or posting content must still be accessible. In addition, content posted on behalf of a state or local government entity must meet these standards and creating alternate versions will not mean the website or application is sufficiently accessible.

Even if a website or app is not required to meet the new rules, the government must still provide an alternative accessible version if someone asks for it.

Learn more about our efforts to comply with the updated federal law through the DoIT Digital Accessibility Initiative and the Maryland Digital Access Policy​.