PUBLIC BUILDINGS: CHANGING FACILITIES

An Act relating to universal changing facilities in public buildings.

Children

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: REPRESENTATIVES CARRICK, Hannan
Last action: 2025-05-06
Official status: (H) HSS
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Universal Changing Facilities in Public Buildings

This act requires public buildings undergoing construction or major remodeling to include universal changing facilities.

What This Bill Does

Requires new public buildings and those with major renovations ($30,000 or more) to have at least one bathroom with a universal changing facility.
If bathrooms are divided by gender, each must have a universal changing facility.
Exempts buildings if installing the facility is not practical or would violate disability access standards.
Requires building owners or lessees to report the location of new universal changing facilities to the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities.
Directs the department to maintain an online list of all reported universal changing facilities.

Who It Names or Affects

Building owners and lessees who must comply with the requirements for universal changing facilities.
The public, as they will have access to these facilities in public buildings.

Terms To Know

universal changing facility: A table or other device suitable for changing the diaper of a child and providing personal care for an adult.
public building: A building owned, controlled, or held by the state or political subdivision of the state for government or public use or supported by public funds.

Limits and Unknowns

The act does not specify what happens if a building is exempt from installing a universal changing facility.
It's unclear how compliance with disability access standards will be determined and enforced.

Bill History

2025-05-06 Min
(H) Minutes (HHSS)
2025-05-06 Text
(H) Heard & Held
2025-05-06 Text
(H) HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES at 03:15 PM DAVIS 106
2025-05-01 Min
(H) Minutes (HHSS)
2025-05-01 Text
(H) Heard & Held
2025-05-01 Text
(H) HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES at 03:15 PM DAVIS 106
2025-04-22 Min
(H) Minutes (HHSS)
2025-04-22 Text
(H) <Bill Hearing Canceled> -- Delayed to 3:45 pm --
2025-04-22 Text
(H) HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES at 03:15 PM DAVIS 106
2025-04-15 Text
(H) -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- -- MEETING CANCELED --
2025-04-15 Text
(H) HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES at 03:15 PM DAVIS 106
2025-03-21 508
(H) REFERRED TO HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES
2025-03-21 508
(H) HSS, L&C
2025-03-21 508
(H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

Official Summary Text

PUBLIC BUILDINGS: CHANGING FACILITIES
An Act relating to universal changing facilities in public buildings.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB0141a -1- HB 141
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

34-LS0610\A

HOUSE BILL NO. 141

IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA

THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - FIRST SESSION

BY REPRESENTATIVES CARRICK, Hannan

Introduced: 3/21/25
Referred: Health and Social Services, Labor and Commerce

A BILL

FOR AN ACT ENTITLED

"An Act relating to universal changing facilities in public buildings." 1
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 2
* Section 1. AS 18.35 is amended by adding a new section to read: 3
Sec. 18.35.150. Universal changing facilities in public buildin gs. (a) On or 4
after the effective date of this Act, a public building in whic h a bathroom is 5
constructed, or that undergoes a remodel of the building estima ted to cost $30,000 or 6
more, must contain 7
(1) at least one publicly availa ble bathroom with a universal changing 8
facility; or 9
(2) if the bathrooms in the building are divided by gender, at least one 10
men's bathroom and one women's ba throom that are equipped with universal 11
changing facilities. 12
(b) A public building is exempt from the requirements of (a) o f this section if 13
installation of a universal changing facility 14
(1) is not practicable; or 15
34-LS0610\A
HB 141 -2- HB0141a
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

(2) would cause the bathroom to be out of compliance with appl icable 1
building standards governing the right of access for individuals with disabilities. 2
(c) The owner or lessee of a building shall report the locatio n of a universal 3
changing table to the department when one is installed. 4
(d) The department shall maintain on the department's publicly available 5
Internet website a list containing the location of each univers al changing facility 6
reported under this section. 7
(e) The department shall adopt r egulations establishing standa rds for a 8
universal changing facility required under this section. 9
(f) In a civil action for violation of this section, a court may award a prevailing 10
plaintiff injunctive and declaratory relief, actual damages, and attorney fees and costs. 11
(g) In this section, 12
(1) "department" means the Depa rtment of Transportation and P ublic 13
Facilities; 14
(2) "public building" means a building owned or controlled and held 15
by the state or political subdivi sion of the state for governme n t o r p u b l i c u s e o r a 16
public transportation facility that is supported by public funds; 17
(3) "universal changing facility" means a table or other devic e suitable 18
for changing the diaper of a child and providing personal care for an adult. 19