Bill > SB1496

This bill aims to enhance civil rights protections for people with disabilities by updating Hawaii's laws regarding public accommodations, specifically focusing on digital accessibility. The legislation expands the definition of "place of public accommodation" to include both physical and digital spaces and introduces new requirements for information and communication technology (ICT) accessibility. Beginning July 1, 2026, businesses must ensure that their digital platforms, such as websites and applications, are fully accessible to individuals with disabilities, meaning these technologies must be usable in a manner equivalent to how people without disabilities would use them. The bill defines key terms like "accessible," "application," and "website," and establishes that digital platforms meeting the World Wide Web Consortium Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 Level AA will be considered compliant. Importantly, the law provides an exception if making the technology accessible would impose an undue burden or fundamentally alter the technology's nature. The legislative intent is to ensure that people with disabilities have equal access to information, services, and goods in both physical and digital environments, reflecting the growing importance of technology in modern public interactions.

Health and Social Services, Housing and Urban Affairs, Justice

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=1496&year=2025