State Accessibility Requirements

House Bills 21-1110 & 24-1454

House Bill 21-1110 requires state and local government entities to follow national accessibility standards known as WCAG 2.1 AA. These entities began planning in 2022 and were expected to meet these standards by July 1, 2024.

To support this effort, House Bill 24-1454 extended the deadline to July 1, 2025 for entities that show a good faith effort.

In May 2025, new rules were added to help state and local government entities better understand how to follow the law. They can meet the requirements by using accessible technology, offering alternate formats, or providing help when needed. They must also post an accessibility statement with at least two ways for people to ask for assistance. Additionally, only digital content that was currently in use needed to be accessible right away, and older content could be updated upon request.

These updates focused on steady progress, not perfection, and were designed to make sure everyone in Colorado can access public services equally, no matter how they connect.

8 CCR 1501-11 Technology Accessibility Rules

To guide this work, the state adopted 8 CCR 1501-11, Technology Accessibility Rules, which explain how to meet the requirements of House Bill 21-1110. These rules apply to both public-facing and internal digital tools that are in active use or created, updated, or purchased after July 1, 2024. If someone with a disability requests access to older content, the entity must provide an accessible version.

The rules also require an accessibility statement and a way for people to get help when digital content isn’t usable. While they promote broad access, they also recognize that there are limits. The rules also require an accessibility statement and a way for people to get help when digital content isn’t usable. While the goal is to make all digital tools accessible, the rules recognize that there are some exceptions. A state or local government entity is not required to make changes if doing so would:

• Impose an undue burden, meaning it would be extremely difficult or expensive based on the entity’s resources,
• Fundamentally alter the nature of a program or service, or
• Pose a direct threat to the health or safety of others.

These exceptions are part of both state and federal accessibility laws. Even when an exception applies, entities are still encouraged to offer alternative ways to provide