It’s crunch time for state and local government agencies and schools, most of whom are required to comply with ADA Title II digital accessibility requirements before the end of April 2026. States are moving quickly to update policies, secure funding, procure tools, and implement strategies to comply with upcoming deadlines.
The updated DOJ rule requires state and local governments to ensure their websites, mobile apps, and digital content conform to WCAG 2.1 Level AA. For many states, that means addressing years of legacy content, inaccessible PDFs, procurement gaps, and decentralized workflows.
Here’s a look at what specific states are doing to prepare.
North Dakota: Funding + Centralized Implementation
SB 2404 and Digital Accessibility Investment
North Dakota’s Legislature approved Senate Bill 2404, which includes $1.5 million in one-time funding for the state’s Information Technology Department. The funding supports:
- Updating state websites and digital content
- Deploying accessibility scanning and monitoring tools
- Prioritizing remediation efforts
- Supporting federal litigation work related to accessibility
This is a clear example of a state tying appropriations directly to ADA Title II compliance efforts ahead of the 2026 deadline.
Digital Accessibility Hub
North Dakota IT also maintains a Digital Accessibility Hub that provides agencies with:
- Templates
- Training resources
- Accessibility tools
- WCAG guidance
Rather than leaving compliance to individual agencies, the state is building centralized infrastructure to scale accessibility efforts statewide.
Massachusetts: Strategic Governance + Enterprise Support
Digital Accessibility & Equity Strategic Plan
In early 2026, Massachusetts launched its Digital Accessibility and Equity Strategic Plan, establishing a formal statewide governance structure for accessibility across executive branch agencies.
The plan serves as a compliance blueprint and includes:
- A Digital Accessibility & Equity Governance Board
- Cross-agency coordination
- Standardized implementation strategies
- Enterprise-wide accountability
Massachusetts is treating Title II compliance not as a one-time fix, but as a long-term transformation of digital government services.
Enterprise Accessibility Support (ACCESS)
The state also established the Accessibility Center for Consulting, Education, and Support Services (ACCESS) to:
- Provide ongoing guidance to agencies
- Deliver training
- Embed accessibility into workflows
- Integrate accessibility into digital service design processes
Procurement and Policy Alignment
Massachusetts requires WCAG conformance in:
- Digital content
- Training materials
- Vendor contracts
- Technology procurement
This ensures accessibility is built into new systems rather than retrofitted later.
Maryland: Policy Alignment and Enterprise Accessibility Leadership
Digital Accessibility Policy and Title II Integration
Maryland has aligned its statewide digital accessibility efforts directly with the ADA Title II Final Rule. The state’s updated Digital Accessibility Policy explicitly incorporates the DOJ’s requirements, directing executive branch agencies to ensure that both public-facing and internal digital content and services conform to WCAG 2.1 Level AA ahead of the April 24, 2026 deadline.
By formally embedding Title II requirements into statewide policy, Maryland is establishing clear expectations and accountability for agencies across government.
Digital Accessibility Initiative and Agency Support
Through its Digital Accessibility Initiative, Maryland’s Department of Information Technology (DoIT) provides centralized support to agencies, including:
- Accessibility testing and evaluation
- Training and education
- Accessibility analytics and monitoring
- Consultative guidance for remediation efforts
In addition, Maryland launched an Accessibility Officer Initiative, appointing and training designated accessibility officers within each executive agency to lead implementation and coordinate compliance efforts internally.
The state also maintains a public Global Accessibility Statement and encourages reporting of digital barriers, reinforcing transparency and continuous improvement.
Together, these governance, policy, and support mechanisms position Maryland to operationalize digital accessibility statewide and systematically prepare for the 2026 ADA Title II compliance deadline.
Washington: Agency-Level IT Accessibility Plans
Under USER-01 Accessibility Policy (formerly Policy 188), Washington mandates that all state agencies develop and maintain an IT Accessibility Plan.
The policy requires conformance with WCAG 2.1 Level AA, aligning state standards with the new ADA Title II rule. Agencies must proactively plan and document their accessibility strategy rather than reacting to complaints.
Colorado: Statutory Digital Accessibility Requirements
Colorado enacted HB21-1110, strengthening state law to require digital accessibility across all government information technology.
Effective July 1, 2024, the law mandates that:
- Government digital content meet accessibility standards
- Public entities address digital barriers
- Accessibility is treated as a civil rights obligation
Although passed before the DOJ’s updated Title II rule, the law positioned Colorado ahead of the curve for 2026 compliance.
Ohio: Explicit Alignment with the ADA Title II Final Rule
Ohio updated Administrative Policy IT-09 (2025) to explicitly incorporate requirements from the ADA Title II Final Rule.
The policy requires:
- All state-controlled websites to meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA
- Agencies to prepare for the April 2026 compliance deadline
- Centralized oversight of accessibility implementation
Ohio stands out for directly referencing the DOJ rule in state policy language.
Illinois: Longstanding Statutory Accessibility Framework
Illinois follows the Illinois Information Technology Accessibility Act (IITAA), which mandates proactive adherence to functional accessibility standards across state agencies and public universities.
This long-standing framework gives Illinois a strong policy foundation for Title II compliance efforts.
Minnesota: Dedicated Office of Accessibility
Minnesota operates a formal Office of Accessibility within Minnesota IT Services.
The office oversees:
- Executive branch website accessibility
- Application and document accessibility
- Implementation of WCAG-aligned standards
Having a centralized accessibility authority enables consistent statewide enforcement and coordination ahead of the 2026 deadline.
California: Certification and Accountability
California requires biannual certification of accessibility compliance under both Assembly Bill 434 and Government Code Section 11545.7.
State agencies must certify that their websites meet WCAG 2.0 AA standards. This certification model creates accountability and executive-level visibility into accessibility compliance.
Texas: Regulatory Enforcement Through Administrative Code
Texas mandates digital accessibility through Texas Administrative Code (TAC) Chapters 206 and 213.
Requirements include:
- Regular audits
- Accessibility policies for agencies and universities
- Conformance with recognized accessibility standards
Texas uses regulatory structure and recurring oversight to enforce compliance.
Additional States Leveraging Existing Standards
While not always tied directly to the 2026 Title II deadline, many states are updating or leaning on established ICT accessibility policies to prepare.
North Carolina
North Carolina’s Digital Accessibility & Usability Standard establishes clear requirements for accessible digital public services across state agencies, aligning with WCAG standards.
Louisiana
Louisiana maintains an ADA Title II accessibility guide clarifying how digital accessibility requirements apply to state websites and online services under the updated DOJ rule.
A Common Pattern: Governance, Funding, and Standardization
Across states, several trends are emerging:
- Dedicated funding for accessibility remediation
- Formal governance boards or accessibility offices
- Mandatory IT accessibility plans
- Updated procurement requirements
- Adoption or reaffirmation of WCAG 2.1 Level AA
- Enterprise scanning and monitoring tools
- Policy updates that explicitly reference the ADA Title II Final Rule
States that already had ICT accessibility laws are now revisiting and aligning them with the DOJ’s updated digital accessibility rule and the April 2026 compliance deadline.
What This Means for Public Entities
The April 24, 2026 deadline is driving states to move from informal accessibility efforts to structured, funded, and measurable compliance programs.
Here are some ways the most proactive states are preparing for compliance:
- Building centralized accessibility infrastructure
- Standardizing WCAG conformance requirements
- Embedding accessibility into procurement and workflows
- Allocating budget specifically for remediation
- Explicitly aligning policies with ADA Title II
- Choosing tools and resources to make remediation effective and efficient
Equidox has worked with many state and local organizations, including both schools and government agencies, making the PDF remediation part of Title II compliance faster and easier, even for those who are new to accessibility.
“We now have a consistent and scalable approach to PDF accessibility that complies with federal and state-level regulations.”
— State Agency Accessibility Manager
“My management team mandated that all four hundred employees be trained and certified using Adobe Acrobat… After one training session… they found it too complex. That led us to Equidox. The difference between the two is night and day. Wow, what a user‑friendly application!”
— State Health Agency in California
“Adobe was a nightmare. It took so long to do the remediation – it wasn’t user‑friendly. The Commonlook plug‑in tool was cost‑prohibitive for our needs. Staff loves using Equidox as a solution to make documents ADA compliant… Equidox is well worth the money.”
— Robin Greco, Deputy City Clerk, Oakland Park Clerk’s Office
“Equidox was more cost-effective and user-friendly than other remediation solutions we evaluated, including Adobe and CommonLook.”
— IT Administrator, New England Municipality
For agencies and institutions still early in their compliance journey, these state-level examples provide a roadmap: accessibility must be strategic, funded, and standardized across the organization.
The deadline is approaching quickly, and the states that are succeeding are treating accessibility not as a checklist, but as an operational priority.
Nina Overdorff
Nina comes to Equidox with years of sales and marketing experience from a variety of industries and holds a BS in Language Arts Education. Nina has a passion for words, storytelling, and information, which she believes everyone should have access to regardless of ability. After spending time as a teacher with a blind student, she became much more aware of the limitations and abilities of web accessibility, and how essential it is to those experiencing disabilities. “Being able to access information equally ensures that everyone has an equal opportunity for education, employment, and success in life.”
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