New Mexico has two ADA timelines running at the same time, and they don't match. The federal government requires all public entities including the University of New Mexico, state agencies, cities like Albuquerque, and school districts to make their websites, PDFs, videos, and online content fully accessible by April 24, 2026 under WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards. A state bill that would have created an April 1, 2026 deadline and an Office of Accessibility passed the legislature but was vetoed by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham on March 20, 2025. A new bill, HB 295, is now moving through the 2026 session with a smaller budget and a slower reporting timeline, pushing the first state accessibility report to May 2028.
For private businesses in New Mexico, the rules are different but the risks are real. Title III of the ADA doesn't have a specific website deadline, but plaintiffs' lawyers file accessibility lawsuits using WCAG 2.1 as the standard. The City of Albuquerque has an ADA coordinator who handles complaints about physical barriers in buildings, sidewalks, and public spaces. Landlords must allow reasonable modifications at tenant expense, and service animal rules remain the same: two questions, no documentation, no vest required. Disability Rights New Mexico is also pursuing M.G. v. Armijo, a lawsuit about private-duty nursing for medically fragile children that could affect how Medicaid services are delivered statewide.
Frequently Asked Questions
That's the federal deadline under Title II of the ADA for all state and local government entities serving populations of 50,000 or more. It applies to the University of New Mexico, New Mexico State University, the City of Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Las Cruces, all state agencies, and larger school districts. Their websites, PDFs, videos, online courses, and third-party platforms must meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards.
Yes, but they have until April 26, 2027. Entities serving fewer than 50,000 people get an extra year. The technical requirements are exactly the same.
House Bill 120 passed the legislature in March 2025 and would have required compliance by April 1, 2026 while creating an Office of Accessibility. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham vetoed it on March 20, 2025. The bill is dead.
Yes. House Bill 295 was introduced in the 2026 session. It creates an Office of Accessibility within the Department of Health with $350,000 in funding over two years. The first state accessibility report would be due May 2028. The bill is in committee as of March 2026.
No. Private businesses are covered by Title III of the ADA, which doesn't have a specific website deadline. But plaintiffs' lawyers file Title III website lawsuits regularly using WCAG 2.1 as the standard, so the risk is real.
The City of Albuquerque has an Office of the ADA Coordinator that handles complaints about physical barriers in public spaces, buildings, sidewalks, and transportation. They also process requests for accommodations at city events, which require 72 hours notice.
Santa Fe Community College offers a free six-session training series called "Accessible: Digital Access Essentials for Professionals" starting May 21, 2025. The Commercial Association of Realtors New Mexico has a property managers ADA course on December 3, 2026 at the CNM Workforce Training Center. The Department of Information Technology holds monthly meetings on digital accessibility every fourth Thursday.
Renee Narvaiz at the Department of Information Technology is the contact for state agencies. Her number is 505-827-2416 and email is renee.narvaiz@doit.nm.gov. The Corrections Department takes website feedback at CD-WebsiteFeedback@cd.nm.gov. The Economic Development Department takes questions at Info@edd.nm.gov or 505-827-0300.
It's a lawsuit Disability Rights New Mexico is pursuing about private-duty nursing for medically fragile children. The case argues New Mexico isn't providing adequate nursing services, forcing families to institutionalize children who could live at home. It's about the ADA's integration mandate from the Olmstead case.
Yes. Under the Fair Housing Act and ADA, landlords must allow reasonable modifications at the tenant's expense. That includes grab bars, ramps, or lever door handles. You can require documentation if the disability isn't obvious, but you can't refuse unreasonable modifications.
For lots with 1 to 25 total spaces, you need one accessible space. For 26 to 50 spaces, you need two. Each space must be 8 feet wide with a 5-foot access aisle. The access aisle is required for lift deployment.
Same as federal law. You can ask two questions: whether the dog is a service animal required because of a disability, and what work or task the dog has been trained to perform. You cannot ask about the disability, require documentation, or demand a vest. Disability Rights New Mexico lists service animal access as a 2026 priority.
PDFs. Screen readers can't read PDFs that are just images. If you post documents online, they need proper tags, headings, alt text for images, and readable text. The University of New Mexico recommends avoiding PDFs unless they're forms that need to be printed.
The Great Plains ADA Center covers New Mexico and provides free technical assistance. Disability Rights New Mexico is the protection and advocacy organization. The Department of Information Technology's monthly meetings are free and open to state agency staff. Santa Fe Community College's digital accessibility training is free for New Mexico residents.
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