One of the most significant pieces of proposed legislation is California Assembly Bill 1757, or AB 1757, which aims to make websites and mobile apps more accessible to people with disabilities. If passed, the law would require platforms to comply with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1. The passage of AB 1757 would be significant because it’s the first time that a state has codified WCAG 2.1 as a standard. Key provisions of the bill include providing synchronized captions for live audio, audio descriptions for prerecorded video, accessible documents on websites, and more. In addition, AB 1757 does not include a transition period to comply with the legislation. This means that if the bill passes, businesses will be immediately required for their digital content to be compliant with the WCAG 2.1 standards. Currently, AB 1757 is in the California legislature and is expected to return to the government’s floor some time in 2024.
For those of you outside of California, you may be wondering how or if this is important to you. While AB 1757 is a California law, it’s impact would be felt nationwide. Businesses across the county who engage with California residents would be required to adhere to the WCAG 2.1 standards. Not only businesses, but any website that is accessed in California could fall under the bill’s scope. In today’s interconnected digital world, this would impact websites from all fifty states and internationally. This legislation underscores the importance of universal digital accessibility.