Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H256 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 2
2	2	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 982 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
3	3	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 256
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	John J. Lawn, Jr. and Sean Garballey
8	8	_________________
9	9	To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
10	10	Court assembled:
11	11	The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
12	12	An Act requiring universal changing stations in public buildings.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	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
16	16	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
17	17	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 982 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
18	18	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 256
19	19	By Representatives Lawn of Watertown and Garballey of Arlington, a petition (accompanied by
20	20	bill, House, No. 256) of John J. Lawn, Jr., Sean Garballey and others for legislation to provide
21	21	for diaper changing accommodations in public buildings. Children, Families and Persons with
22	22	Disabilities.
23	23	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
24	24	_______________
25	25	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
26	26	(2025-2026)
27	27	_______________
28	28	An Act requiring universal changing stations in public buildings.
29	29	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
30	30	of the same, as follows:
31	31	1 SECTION 1. Section 93 of chapter 143 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020
32	32	2Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph after the fifth paragraph:-
33	33	3Any State owned and maintained public building or place of public accommodation containing a
34	34	4public toilet room that is newly constructed, reconstructed or remodeled on or after January 1,
35	35	52025 shall install and maintain at least one universal changing station. The bathroom shall be
36	36	6conspicuously marked as containing a public universal size changing table. The changing table
37	37	7shall be capable of supporting a minimum of 350 pounds and providing a changing surface of
38	38	870 inches minimum in length and 30 inches minimum in width. The changing surface height
39	39	9shall be adjustable at variable heights from 17 inches minimum to 38 inches maximum above the
40	40	10floor as measured to the top of the changing surface.
41	41	11 SECTION 2. Section 93 of said chapter 143 is hereby further amended by inserting the
42	42	12following definitions after the sixth paragraph:- 2 of 4
43	43	13 “Universal changing station,” an adult sized changing table designed to hold at least
44	44	14350lbs that is located within an enclosed restroom facility that is for use by persons of any
45	45	15age who require assistance with diapering and is accessible by persons of any sex.
46	46	16 "State owned and maintained”, is a building with a public bathroom belonging to, funded
47	47	17by, and controlled by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, its political subdivisions, and its
48	48	18public authorities and other public instrumentalities.
49	49	19 SECTION 3. Section 93 of chapter 143 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020
50	50	20Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following after the definitions: The board shall
51	51	21adopt regulations regarding the requirement that any State-owned and maintained public building
52	52	22that is newly constructed, reconstructed or remodeled on or after January 1, 2025 to install and
53	53	23maintain at least one universal changing station.
54	54	24 (b) The regulations adopted by the Board shall be aligned with the specifications
55	55	25determined in the 2024 International Building Code section 1110.4, Adult Changing Stations and
56	56	26the International Code Council A117.1 Supplement 1: Standard for Accessible and Usable
57	57	27Buildings and Facilities; Section 613: Adult Changing Stations. These include but are not limited
58	58	28to:
59	59	29 (1) a requirement that the entrance to each universal changing station has conspicuous
60	60	30signage indicating the location of the station;
61	61	31 (2) a requirement that if a public building has a central directory, said central directory
62	62	32must indicate the location of the universal changing station; 3 of 4
63	63	33 (3) a requirement for signage indicating the weight capacity and instructions for operation
64	64	34of the changing station within the room;
65	65	35 (4) a requirement that all universal changing stations shall:
66	66	36 (A) be equipped with a height-adjustable changing table capable of supporting a
67	67	37minimum of 350 pounds and providing a changing surface of 70 inches minimum in length and
68	68	3830 inches minimum in width. The changing surface height shall be adjustable at variable heights
69	69	39from 17 inches minimum to 38 inches maximum above the floor as measured to the top of the
70	70	40changing surface;
71	71	41 (B) provide safety features of sidebar rails and safety belts;
72	72	42 (C) be located inside a private restroom or in a private stall, enclosed area or privacy
73	73	43screen within a multi-stall restroom;
74	74	44 (D) provide adequate space for assistance, following the IBC guidelines for end and side
75	75	45clearance; and
76	76	46 (E) comply with all requirements of the Federal Americans with Disabilities Act;
77	77	47 (5) any other issues regarding implementation that the board deems appropriate.
78	78	48 (c) If the Board determines that the inclusion of a wall mounted, adjustable height
79	79	49Universal Changing Table is not feasible or would destroy historic significance of a historic
80	80	50property, the Board may allow instead for the placement of a freestanding, mobile, height-
81	81	51adjustable Universal Changing Table. 4 of 4
82	82	52 (d) The Board may grant an exemption from the requirements of this section if it
83	83	53determines:
84	84	54 (1) the installation would create a condition that does not comply with the Americans
85	85	55with Disabilities Act standards for access for persons with disabilities.
86	86	56 (2) the cost of the proposed reconstruction or remodeling without the inclusion of a
87	87	57changing table does not exceed $10,000.