Mark Alford (R-MO)
Online Accessibility Act
A Republican bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill updates the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 to cover private consumer-facing websites and mobile apps. It sets rules for digital accessibility, largely pointing to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, while allowing equivalent alternative access if websites are not fully compliant. The Access Board and the Attorney General are tasked with creating specific rules, timelines, and complaint procedures. Before taking legal action, individuals must give website owners notice and time to fix the problem. Finally, the bill outlines penalties for violations and grants individuals the right to sue after exhausting these administrative steps.
Yes· 3 of 9
- Scored +10
Would people with disabilities be better off under this?
The bill directly enhances digital inclusion and legal protections for individuals with disabilities across online and mobile platforms.
- Scored +9
Does this expand the rights of people with disabilities?
The legislation directly expands the Americans with Disabilities Act to cover consumer-facing websites and mobile applications, heavily strengthening rights for people with disabilities.
- Scored +8
Does this get reliable internet to more people?
The legislation mandates that consumer-facing websites and mobile applications are fully accessible to individuals with disabilities or provide alternative access.
The opposite
- Scored -3
Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts?
The bill implements strict procedural hurdles, such as mandatory administrative exhaustion and pleading requirements with particularity before individuals can sue.
- Scored -2
Would business owners be better off under this?
Private business owners face potential compliance costs and legal penalties if their websites or apps fail accessibility standards.
- Scored -2
Does this leave more decisions to the states?
The bill creates a unified federal standard that may limit or supersede various state or local accessibility enforcement mechanisms unless specifically certified.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Section 601(a): This provision ensures that individuals with disabilities are not excluded from participating in, denied benefits from, or discriminated against by private consumer-facing websites and mobile applications. This is positive because it promotes equal digital access for everyday services.
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Section 601(b)(2): If a website or app does not fully meet standard compliance guidelines, owners must provide an equivalent alternative means of access. This benefits users by ensuring they can still access necessary content even if the main digital platform is not fully updated.
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Section 601(c)(3): Regulations issued under this section must include flexibility for small business concerns. This helps protect smaller local businesses from overwhelming financial burdens while still working toward accessibility.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Section 602(b): Individuals are required to give private website or app owners a 60-day notice before filing a complaint, and must wait through additional investigation and determination timelines. This process can cause significant delays for people seeking to address accessibility barriers.
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Section 603(a): Individuals filing a civil action must plead with particularity each element of their claim, including specific barriers to access. This strict legal requirement might create a challenging hurdle for everyday people trying to represent themselves in court without legal assistance.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — The bill directly enhances digital inclusion and legal protections for individuals with disabilities across online and mobile platforms. Would retired people be better off under this? — Retirees benefit from broader digital accessibility for online services and commerce. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — Seniors experiencing age-related digital accessibility challenges will benefit from accessible consumer websites and apps. Would business owners be better off under this? — Private business owners face potential compliance costs and legal penalties if their websites or apps fail accessibility standards.
- Education And Technology
- Does this get reliable internet to more people? — The legislation mandates that consumer-facing websites and mobile applications are fully accessible to individuals with disabilities or provide alternative access. Does this put more rules on large technology companies? — The bill introduces federal web accessibility mandates and compliance standards for private digital platforms and mobile applications.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices? — The bill significantly expands consumer protections to digital spaces, ensuring websites and mobile applications are accessible to individuals with disabilities. Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The bill includes explicit flexibility for small business concerns to comply with accessibility standards, protecting them from excessive burdens.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this expand the rights of people with disabilities? — The legislation directly expands the Americans with Disabilities Act to cover consumer-facing websites and mobile applications, heavily strengthening rights for people with disabilities.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill establishes new federal regulatory requirements through the Access Board and the Department of Justice. Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts? — The bill implements strict procedural hurdles, such as mandatory administrative exhaustion and pleading requirements with particularity before individuals can sue. Does this leave more decisions to the states? — The bill creates a unified federal standard that may limit or supersede various state or local accessibility enforcement mechanisms unless specifically certified.
- 6/30/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
J. CorreaDemocrat · California