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Subcommittee reports bill to align Virginia accessibility law with federal updates and expand digital-accessibility requirements
Summary
The subcommittee reported HB 2541, a substitute updating the Virginia Information Technology Access Act to align with federal Title II and Section 508 regulations, broaden covered entities and require vendor-provided accessibility roadmaps; the subcommittee recommended referral to Appropriations.
The Technology and Innovation Subcommittee voted to report House Bill 2541 as substituted and recommend referral to the Appropriations Committee. The substitute updates the Virginia Information Technology Access Act to align state law with recent federal Title II (ADA) and Section 508 updates and to broaden digital-accessibility expectations for covered entities.
Sponsor Delegate Tran said the substitute clarifies covered entities (state government, local government, higher education and K–12) and strengthens procurement practices by requiring vendor-provided accessibility roadmaps when technology is purchased. The substitute also asks covered entities to publish how users report digital accessibility barriers and permits, but does not require, designation of a digital accessibility coordinator.
Supporters from disability-advocacy organizations — including the National Federation of the Blind, the Arc of Virginia, the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities and the Disability Law Center — urged passage and said the measure updates an older statute and helps prevent students and constituents from losing access to online resources. The National Federation of the Blind’s representative said noncompliance with older law has in some cases led parents to remove children from public school programs.
Local-government and school-board representatives did not oppose the policy’s goals but raised concerns about costs and timelines; multiple witnesses asked for funding and implementation assistance for smaller localities. The sponsor and advocates said federal deadlines for compliance are approaching and that state alignment would help agencies and localities move forward.
The subcommittee voted to report and refer the substituted bill to Appropriations; committee records show the motion and referral were approved and the bill will proceed to the next stage for fiscal review and any appropriation considerations.
