On August 4, 2023, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on the Accessibility of Web Information and Services of State and Local Government Entities in the Federal Register. Comments on the proposed rule are due by October 3, 2023. The proposal pertains to the accessibility of information and services offered via the websites of state and local government entities.
A Fact Sheet issued by the DOJ provides further details about the NPRM and includes links to the proposed rule. As stated in the Fact Sheet, final regulations, which will be based on the comments and inputs received by October 3, could be issued within a period of three to six months after the close of the comment period.
This Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) is notable and must be read closely not just by state and local government entities, but also by public corporations, businesses, and institutions for higher learning. These entities might, as a result of these proposed regulations, have to make significant adjustments to their web services and online information in order to ensure compliance.
The DOJ’s proposed regulations are set to shape how online services on government-owned and managed websites provide accessibility—a factor that is critical in today’s digital age where an increasing number of services are being delivered online. As such, it is important for all entities, from public institutions to private businesses, to closely monitor the progress of this NPRM and to consider providing comments before the October 3 deadline to help shape the final rules and regulations.