ADA Laws for Family Medicine in Hawaii

State Law Summary

Hawaii Has a State Law Covering Government Digital Accessibility

Hawaii enacted Act 172 (Session Laws of Hawaii 2022), which created Electronic Information Technology (EIT) Disability Access Standards for government technology.

The law requires state agencies to ensure that their electronic and information technology is accessible to people with disabilities, including websites and online services.

Covered technology includes:

• government websites
• online forms and services
• mobile apps
• digital documents and media
• other public-facing government IT systems.

The law is designed to ensure that individuals with disabilities have equal access to government services delivered online.

Website Compliance Rules

Accessibility Standards Used by Hawaii

Hawaii’s digital accessibility standards align with widely recognized federal accessibility rules.

Government agencies typically follow:

• Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA
• Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act
• ADA Title II accessibility requirements.

WCAG standards address issues such as:

• providing alt text for images
• keyboard-accessible navigation
• proper heading and content structure
• readable color contrast
• captions or transcripts for multimedia.

These guidelines serve as the technical benchmark for accessibility compliance.

Damages & Penalties

Federal ADA Rule for Government Websites (2024 Update)

A major update to federal ADA regulations now requires state and local governments to ensure that digital services meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards.

Key deadline:

• April 24, 2026 for most government entities.

This requirement applies to:

• state agency websites
• county and municipal websites
• public education websites
• government online portals and applications.

Because Hawaii already adopted accessibility standards through state law, many agencies are preparing for these federal compliance deadlines.

ADA Requirements for Private Business Websites in Hawaii

Hawaii does not have a separate state statute that specifically requires private business websites to meet accessibility standards.

Instead, private businesses are generally regulated under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Under ADA Title III, businesses considered places of public accommodation must provide equal access to their services.

Examples include:

• restaurants
• hotels
• retail stores
• healthcare providers
• banks
• professional services
• ecommerce businesses tied to physical locations.

Most ADA website lawsuits claim that accessibility barriers prevent users with disabilities from accessing services online.

Typical issues cited include:

• missing alt text
• inaccessible forms
• keyboard navigation problems
• screen-reader incompatibility
• poor color contrast.

Courts commonly use WCAG 2.0 or 2.1 Level AA as the benchmark for accessibility compliance.