The bill proposes amendments to Chapter 42-6 of the General Laws, specifically adding a new section that mandates state departments, boards, divisions, bureaus, commissions, and agencies to ensure that all new public access websites comply with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.2 (WCAG 2.2) or any subsequent versions published by the Web Accessibility Initiative of the World Wide Web Consortium at a level AA success criteria. Additionally, it requires existing public access websites to be redesigned to meet these standards by July 1, 2026, with priority given to websites related to healthcare, human services, open government, and benefits.

The bill also stipulates that the director of each state department or the executive or administrative head of each state agency must obtain and post a certification of compliance from a recognized expert on the home page of the website. This certification must be renewed every two years or after any major redesign or structural change. Furthermore, any state contracts or requests for proposals issued after January 1, 2025, that involve web-based services must include the requirement of WCAG 2.2 level AA compliance. Municipalities are encouraged to adopt similar standards for their websites, and the governor’s commission on disabilities is tasked with providing a recognized expert for certification and recertification of state and public websites. The act will take effect immediately upon passage.