Communications

(April 24, 2026) – As reported this week in AHA Today, the Department of Justice published an interim final rule in the Federal Register to delay compliance dates for states and local governments under certain Title II regulatory requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The rule applies to state and local government entities and extends the compliance deadlines originally set in the final rule, "Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability; Accessibility of Web Information and Services of State and Local Government Entities." For state and local government entities with a total population of 50,000 or more, the compliance deadline is extended from April 24, 2026, to April 26, 2027. For public entities with a total population of less than 50,000, or any special district government, the compliance deadline is extended from April 26, 2027, to April 26, 2028. The interim final rule takes effect on April 20, 2026.

The interim final rule released by DOJ yesterday is unrelated to regulatory compliance deadlines under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Specifically, the compliance deadlines for the HHS final rule "Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability in Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance" remain unchanged. A 2024 AHA news article explains this HHS final rule, which strengthens protections against disability discrimination.
--Cindy Samuelson