1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 982 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 256
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
John J. Lawn, Jr. and Sean Garballey
_________________
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act requiring universal changing stations in public buildings.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:John J. Lawn, Jr.10th Middlesex1/14/2025Sean Garballey23rd Middlesex1/14/2025Mindy Domb3rd Hampshire1/23/2025Susannah M. Whipps2nd Franklin2/10/2025Natalie M. Higgins4th Worcester2/10/2025David Paul Linsky5th Middlesex2/10/2025Christopher Hendricks11th Bristol2/10/2025Colleen M. Garry36th Middlesex2/10/2025James K. Hawkins2nd Bristol2/12/2025John J. Marsi6th Worcester2/13/2025Daniel Cahill10th Essex2/18/2025Vanna Howard17th Middlesex2/18/2025Erika Uyterhoeven27th Middlesex2/20/2025James C. Arena-DeRosa8th Middlesex2/20/2025James Arciero2nd Middlesex2/24/2025William C. Galvin6th Norfolk2/26/2025Kevin G. Honan17th Suffolk2/26/2025Bruce E. TarrFirst Essex and Middlesex3/4/2025 2 of 2
Michael D. BradySecond Plymouth and Norfolk3/4/2025Manny Cruz7th Essex3/4/2025James B. EldridgeMiddlesex and Worcester3/4/2025Paul McMurtry11th Norfolk3/4/2025Thomas M. Stanley9th Middlesex3/4/2025 1 of 4
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 982 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 256
By Representatives Lawn of Watertown and Garballey of Arlington, a petition (accompanied by
bill, House, No. 256) of John J. Lawn, Jr., Sean Garballey and others for legislation to provide
for diaper changing accommodations in public buildings. Children, Families and Persons with
Disabilities.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
_______________
An Act requiring universal changing stations in public buildings.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Section 93 of chapter 143 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020
2Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph after the fifth paragraph:-
3Any State owned and maintained public building or place of public accommodation containing a
4public toilet room that is newly constructed, reconstructed or remodeled on or after January 1,
52025 shall install and maintain at least one universal changing station. The bathroom shall be
6conspicuously marked as containing a public universal size changing table. The changing table
7shall be capable of supporting a minimum of 350 pounds and providing a changing surface of
870 inches minimum in length and 30 inches minimum in width. The changing surface height
9shall be adjustable at variable heights from 17 inches minimum to 38 inches maximum above the
10floor as measured to the top of the changing surface.
11 SECTION 2. Section 93 of said chapter 143 is hereby further amended by inserting the
12following definitions after the sixth paragraph:- 2 of 4
13 “Universal changing station,” an adult sized changing table designed to hold at least
14350lbs that is located within an enclosed restroom facility that is for use by persons of any
15age who require assistance with diapering and is accessible by persons of any sex.
16 "State owned and maintained”, is a building with a public bathroom belonging to, funded
17by, and controlled by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, its political subdivisions, and its
18public authorities and other public instrumentalities.
19 SECTION 3. Section 93 of chapter 143 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020
20Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following after the definitions: The board shall
21adopt regulations regarding the requirement that any State-owned and maintained public building
22that is newly constructed, reconstructed or remodeled on or after January 1, 2025 to install and
23maintain at least one universal changing station.
24 (b) The regulations adopted by the Board shall be aligned with the specifications
25determined in the 2024 International Building Code section 1110.4, Adult Changing Stations and
26the International Code Council A117.1 Supplement 1: Standard for Accessible and Usable
27Buildings and Facilities; Section 613: Adult Changing Stations. These include but are not limited
28to:
29 (1) a requirement that the entrance to each universal changing station has conspicuous
30signage indicating the location of the station;
31 (2) a requirement that if a public building has a central directory, said central directory
32must indicate the location of the universal changing station; 3 of 4
33 (3) a requirement for signage indicating the weight capacity and instructions for operation
34of the changing station within the room;
35 (4) a requirement that all universal changing stations shall:
36 (A) be equipped with a height-adjustable changing table capable of supporting a
37minimum of 350 pounds and providing a changing surface of 70 inches minimum in length and
3830 inches minimum in width. The changing surface height shall be adjustable at variable heights
39from 17 inches minimum to 38 inches maximum above the floor as measured to the top of the
40changing surface;
41 (B) provide safety features of sidebar rails and safety belts;
42 (C) be located inside a private restroom or in a private stall, enclosed area or privacy
43screen within a multi-stall restroom;
44 (D) provide adequate space for assistance, following the IBC guidelines for end and side
45clearance; and
46 (E) comply with all requirements of the Federal Americans with Disabilities Act;
47 (5) any other issues regarding implementation that the board deems appropriate.
48 (c) If the Board determines that the inclusion of a wall mounted, adjustable height
49Universal Changing Table is not feasible or would destroy historic significance of a historic
50property, the Board may allow instead for the placement of a freestanding, mobile, height-
51adjustable Universal Changing Table. 4 of 4
52 (d) The Board may grant an exemption from the requirements of this section if it
53determines:
54 (1) the installation would create a condition that does not comply with the Americans
55with Disabilities Act standards for access for persons with disabilities.
56 (2) the cost of the proposed reconstruction or remodeling without the inclusion of a
57changing table does not exceed $10,000.