The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has issued an interim final rule extending the compliance dates for accessibility requirements governing the websites and mobile applications of state and local government entities under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
What changed:
- Public entities with a total population of 50,000 or more now have until April 26, 2027, to comply — an extension of one year from the original April 24, 2026, deadline.
- Public entities with fewer than 50,000 residents, as well as special district governments, have until April 26, 2028, extending the original April 26, 2027, deadline.
The DOJ cited a range of factors driving the extension, including staffing and budget constraints, the complexity of remediating large and highly technical content sets, and limitations in current technology, including challenges with using generative AI to remediate content at scale. The department noted that these factors made it difficult for many public entities to meet the original timelines.
What actions should organizations take?
The interim final rule is effective April 20, 2026, and the DOJ is accepting public comments through June 22, 2026.
For state and local governments, the extension gives public entities some breathing room, providing additional time to plan, prioritize, and budget for accessibility improvements — while reinforcing the importance of building a thoughtful, sustainable approach to digital accessibility.
We’ll continue to monitor developments and share updates as new information becomes available.
