Colorado is taking a bold, impactful step toward inclusion and equity with the adoption of comprehensive new digital accessibility rules enacted by the Colorado Office of Information Technology (OIT). These rules are a direct implementation of Colorado’s Accessibility Law, HB21-1110,and provide the detailed requirements and enforcement framework that make HB21-1110 actionable.
The rules are designed to ensure that state and local governments—and the agencies, departments, and public entities they oversee—provide digital experiences that are fully accessible to people with disabilities.
Requirements align with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Levels A and AA, exceeding the WCAG 2.0 standard required for compliance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. The rules officially go into effect June 30, 2025.
In this blog post we explore the scope of these new rules, why they matter, who—and what—they apply to, and what you need to do to prepare.
Putting Law into Action
Public entities across Colorado—including state agencies, municipalities, counties, and public institutions—are responsible for ensuring that their digital systems are accessible to individuals with disabilities.
While HB21-1110 sets the legal mandate, these new OIT rules help organizations understand the parameters for meeting them, including:
- Ensuring accessibility in all digital services from websites and mobile apps to electronic documents and procurement systems.
- Offering accommodations and alternative formats for users with disabilities—ensuring no one is excluded from accessing public information or services.
- Adopting and publishing Accessibility Statements that clearly define how the public can request accommodations or report barriers.
Failure to comply could not only result in legal and reputational consequences but also risk further excluding constituents who rely on assistive technology to engage with public services.
Key Areas of Focus
- Websites and Mobile Apps: Both public-facing and internal systems must conform to WCAG 2.1 Levels A and AA.
- Procurement: New or renewed contracts for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) must favor accessible products and services. If full compliance isn’t technically feasible, accommodations must still be provided—balancing accessibility with security, privacy, interoperability, and user needs.
- Alternative Formats and Effective Communication: Public entities must offer alternate formats or auxiliary aids at no cost, upon request. Alternate versions must be equally functional and up to date. These alternate versions must be equivalent in content, functionality, and timeliness.
- Accessibility Statement: Each public entity must post a public-facing accessibility statement outlining:
- A commitment to accessibility.
- How users can request accommodations or alternate formats.
- How to report digital accessibility issues
- Contact information for accessibility personnel.
Demonstrating Compliance
Entities subject to HB21-1110 may demonstrate compliance through several means, including:
- Ensuring applicable communications meet WCAG technical standards.
- Providing alternate formats or accommodations.
- Publishing a publicly available Accessibility Plan demonstrating ongoing good faith efforts toward compliance.
Exemptions
Entities may apply for exemptions if they can demonstrate that compliance would cause:
- An undue burden (significant difficulty or expense),
- A fundamental alteration of the program or service, or
- A direct threat to the health or safety of others.
Meeting Compliance Requirements
The deadline for compliance is June 30, 2025. To meet this deadline, Colorado public entities should:
- Audit digital properties (websites, intranets, mobile apps, documents) to identify accessibility gaps.
- Remediate non-compliant digital content and prioritize updates to frequently accessed materials.
- Inventory third-party solutions to ensure those products are accessible, and review procurement processes to ensure accessibility criteria are embedded in vendor selection.
- Ensure your organization has a way in which to produce alternative formats of communications when requested.
- Develop and publish an Accessibility Statement by the compliance deadline.
- Train staff involved in content creation, procurement, and IT to maintain accessibility standards.
- Create or update an Accessibility Plan to document your compliance strategy and progress.
Accelerate Compliance Requirements with Allyant
Allyant’s comprehensive accessibility solution supports accessible communications—end to end. Our experts help public entities evaluate, prioritize, and implement sustainable accessibility strategies—whether working on their public-facing website, their software and product procurement processes, or their accessible alternative format communications.
And as a service provider of Colorado’s Statewide Internet Portal Authority, SIPA member organizations can streamline engagement with Allyant, accelerating their path to compliance.
Whether you’re starting from scratch or building on existing accessibility efforts, we’re ready to help. Engage our team today.
