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Senate committees pass bills to require universal changing accommodations in state buildings; ADA 'technically infeasible' language adopted
Summary
Joint Senate committees passed SB 2932 (state facilities) and adopted related amendments to SB 2268 to require at least one universal changing accommodation in state restrooms; committees added 'technically infeasible' language aligned with ADA guidance, limited installations to one per building in the broader bill, and set effective dates in committee drafts.
Joint Senate committees on Feb. 17 voted to advance measures that would require universal changing accommodations in public restrooms of state buildings and to amend a companion bill that would extend similar requirements more broadly.
SB 2932, which the committee said would apply prospectively to state building construction beginning July 1, 2026, was advanced as a Senate Draft 1 with amendments requested by the Department of Accounting and General Services (DAGS) and the Disability and Communication Access Board (DECAB). Lawmakers and agency witnesses agreed to include a definition of "technically infeasible" consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility guidance so that installations are not required when structural constraints make compliance impossible.
Dean Chibartolo, executive director for the Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities, testified in support and urged the committee to make at least one changing accommodation accessible in state buildings rather than attempting immediate countywide requirements. DECAB's representative, Bridal McCurr, provided a narrow definition of the term "technically infeasible," saying it applies where existing structural conditions would require removing or altering a load-bearing member or where site constraints prohibit modification.
The committee also considered SB 2268, the broader companion that would extend requirements beyond government buildings and create a private cause of action. Lawmakers accepted amendments limiting the requirement to one changing accommodation per building (instead of per floor), added the ADA-based "technically infeasible" standard, accepted Attorney General implementation suggestions, and set an effective date of 2525 in the draft.
DAGS told the committee it manages about 120 state buildings, while noting there are thousands of other buildings statewide; senators agreed the statutory language should be clear that DAGS' obligations are confined to buildings the agency manages. Judith Clark, a community advocate, told the committee she had witnessed parents kneeling on the Capitol bathroom floor to change infants and supported the bills to ensure dignity and accessibility.
Votes and next steps: The joint committee adopted the chairs' recommendations and passed SB 2932 with amendments. The committee also adopted the recommended amendments to SB 2268; both measures move forward in amended form for further legislative consideration.
Why it matters: The bills seek to standardize access to changing accommodations in state public restrooms, prioritize accessibility for people with disabilities and caregivers, and clarify when exemptions apply due to technical infeasibility.
