An underreported bill in the current congressional session would create a waiting period for Americans with Disabilities Act claims.
"The House judiciary committee has voted to move forward with a bill that could roll back some Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protections," reports Sara Luterman.
The ADA Education and Reform Act (HR 620), "would amend the ADA to add a 120 day waiting period between when a business is notified of an ADA violation and when the person reporting can take the case to court," reports Luterman. "During that 120 days, businesses would be expected to fix or 'make substantial progress' towards fixing a reported accessibility problem."
Bill author Representative Ted Poe (R-Tex) has said that the bill is designed to protect small business from predatory lawsuits. National Disability Rights Network Senior Policy Analyst Dara Baldwin of the has posted an online petition asserting that HR 620 "would create significant obstacles" for disabled people to enforce their rights "to access public accommodations, and would impede their ability to engage in daily activities and participate in the mainstream of society."
The bill has bipartisan support. "Now that it has gone through markup, the bill will go to the floor of the House of Representatives, where it will go to a vote," adds Luterman.
FULL STORY: ANTI-ADA LEGISLATION ADVANCES IN HOUSE
House Bill 'Guts' ADA Enforcement for Public Places
Designed to thwart predatory lawsuits, the bill could make it easier for businesses to ignore barriers to access, disability rights advocates say.
25 Years of the Americans With Disabilities Act
Twenty-five years have passed since the United States approved a civil rights law with broad and positive affect on the build environment as we've come to know it.
FTA Announces Accessibility Funding for ‘Legacy Stations’
The 2024 budget includes close to $350 million for accessibility improvements at transit stations.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research