House committee approves standard bed height for hotel mobility-accessible rooms

The House Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee approved House Bill 1428, requiring beds in mobility-accessible hotel rooms to measure at least 21 inches and no more than 23 inches, sponsor Representative Steinle said.

The measure implements guidance from the Americans with Disabilities Act industry recommendations and was developed with the Arkansas Hospitality Association to align bed heights in mobility-accessible rooms with transfer needs for patrons who use mobility devices. "This bill requires the bed heights to measure at least 21, but no more than 23 inches for the mobility accessible rooms," Representative Steinle said when presenting the bill.

Committee members heard no public testimony and no questions were raised during the brief presentation. Representative Ferguson moved a "do pass" recommendation; the committee announced a voice vote in which the ayes prevailed and the bill advanced from committee.

The bill language exempts hotels already in operation from the new requirement (grandfather clause), and applies to rooms that meet the state's mobility-accessible bathroom requirement, Representative Steinle said.

Action taken in committee was procedural: a motion for a recommendation to the full House was approved by voice vote. The committee did not record a roll-call tally during the meeting.

The measure will proceed with the committee's favorable recommendation for further consideration on the House floor.