Summary as Introduced
Amends the Equitable Restrooms Act. Provides that the owner or operator of each State-owned building and the owner or operator of each public building (rather than only the owner or operator of each State-owned building) shall (1) ensure that one or more of the public restrooms is designated as an adult changing station, with certain requirements, (2) maintain, repair, and replace each adult changing table as necessary, (3) clean each adult changing station with the same frequency as the other public restrooms, and (4) provide sufficient floor space to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Provides that the owner or operator of each State-owned building and the owner or operator of each public building (rather than only the owner or operator of each State-owned building) shall ensure that the entrance to each restroom has conspicuous signage and that the central directory for the building, if it exists, indicates the location. Provides that any public building or State-owned building that is constructed on or after January 1, 2029, and any public building or State-owned building with an estimated renovation cost of at least $10,000 that requires the issuance of a building permit for the renovation and that is renovated on or after January 1, 2031, must contain and provide access to not less than one powered, height adjustable, adult changing table, installed per the manufacturer's recommendations, in a single occupancy restroom that is universal to gender and available to the public. Adds and changes definitions.
Staff Analysis
Bill as Introduced
Amends the Equitable Restrooms Act. Provides that the owner or operator of each State-owned building and the owner or operator of each public building (rather than only the owner or operator of each State-owned building) shall (1) ensure that one or more of the public restrooms is designated as an adult changing station, with certain requirements, (2) maintain, repair, and replace each adult changing table as necessary, (3) clean each adult changing station with the same frequency as the other public restrooms, and (4) provide sufficient floor space to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Provides that the owner or operator of each State-owned building and the owner or operator of each public building (rather than only the owner or operator of each State-owned building) shall ensure that the entrance to each restroom has conspicuous signage and that the central directory for the building, if it exists, indicates the location. Provides that any public building or State-owned building that is constructed on or after January 1, 2029, and any public building or State-owned building with an estimated renovation cost of at least $10,000 that requires the issuance of a building permit for the renovation and that is renovated on or after January 1, 2031, must contain and provide access to not less than one powered, height adjustable, adult changing table, installed per the manufacturer's recommendations, in a single occupancy restroom that is universal to gender and available to the public. Adds and changes definitions.
Senate Committee Amendment 1
The amendment makes clarifying changes to the Equitable Restrooms Act, which requires certain State-owned and public buildings to provide adult changing station accommodations. The amendment removes language in the definition of “public building” that previously clarified the scope of buildings and structures covered under the Act. It also clarifies that specified compliance duties apply separately to the owner or operator of each State-owned building constructed after January 1, 2029, and to the owner or operator of each public building constructed after that date.
Counties that own, operate, construct, or substantially renovate public buildings may be affected by the underlying requirements of the Equitable Restrooms Act, including future obligations related to adult changing stations, restroom accessibility, signage, maintenance, and powered height-adjustable adult changing tables in certain facilities. The amendment itself appears primarily technical and clarifying in nature, but counties may wish to monitor how the revised definition of “public building” affects which county-owned facilities fall within the law’s scope and whether future county construction or renovation projects would trigger compliance obligations and associated costs.