Federal Register #2026-09266

HHS Extends Compliance Deadlines for Web and Mobile Accessibility Under Section 504

This interim final rule from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) addresses compliance timelines for accessibility requirements: - Government Buyer: - Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) - Scope and Applicability: - Extends compliance dates for web content and mobile application accessibility under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act - Applies to all recipients of HHS financial assistance (grants, loans, cooperative agreements, and contracts, excluding direct federal procurement contracts) - Requirements: - Recipients with fifteen or more employees must comply with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA by the new deadline - Recipients with fewer than fifteen employees have an additional year to comply - No specific OEMs, vendors, or products are named, as this is a regulatory change - Notable Details: - The rule requests public comments to address implementation challenges - Focuses on ensuring digital accessibility for individuals with disabilities - No procurement of goods or services is involved in this action

Description

This interim final rule by the Department of Health and Human Services revises regulations implementing section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act to extend compliance dates for web content and mobile application accessibility requirements. The compliance date for recipients with fifteen or more employees is extended from May 11, 2026, to May 11, 2027. For recipients with fewer than fifteen employees, the compliance date is extended from May 10, 2027, to May 10, 2028. The rule aims to address challenges faced by recipients in meeting accessibility standards and requests public comments.

View original listing