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HB141 • 2026

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

The official text does not specify an effective date; it states requirements begin 'on or after the effective date of this Act.'

HB 141: Universal Changing Facilities in Public Buildings

This law requires certain public buildings to include universal changing facilities when new bathrooms are built or during major remodels.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires at least one publicly available bathroom with a universal changing facility if a new bathroom is constructed.
  • Mandates these facilities if a building undergoes a remodel estimated to cost $30,000 or more.
  • Allows buildings with gender-divided bathrooms to meet the requirement by equipping at least one men's and one women's room with universal changing facilities.
  • Exempts buildings where installing the facility is not practical or would violate disability access standards.
  • Requires building owners or lessees to report the location of installed facilities to the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities.
  • Requires the department to maintain a public online list showing the locations of reported facilities.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Owners or lessees of state-owned buildings used for government or public purposes.
  • Operators of publicly funded transportation facilities.
  • The Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, which must track locations and set standards.
  • People who use bathrooms in these specific public buildings.

Terms To Know

Universal changing facility
A table or other device suitable for changing a child's diaper and providing personal care to an adult.
Public building
A structure owned by the state used for government or public use, or a publicly funded transportation facility.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The law does not take effect until an official effective date is set.
  • Specific design standards are unknown because they will be created later through department regulations.
  • It only applies to new construction or major remodels estimated to cost $30,000 or more.

Bill History

  1. 2025-05-06 Min

    (H) Minutes (HHSS)

  2. 2025-05-06 Text

    (H) Heard & Held

  3. 2025-05-06 Text

    (H) HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES at 03:15 PM DAVIS 106

  4. 2025-05-01 Min

    (H) Minutes (HHSS)

  5. 2025-05-01 Text

    (H) Heard & Held

  6. 2025-05-01 Text

    (H) HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES at 03:15 PM DAVIS 106

  7. 2025-04-22 Min

    (H) Minutes (HHSS)

  8. 2025-04-22 Text

    (H) <Bill Hearing Canceled> -- Delayed to 3:45 pm --

  9. 2025-04-22 Text

    (H) HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES at 03:15 PM DAVIS 106

  10. 2025-04-15 Text

    (H) -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- -- MEETING CANCELED --

  11. 2025-04-15 Text

    (H) HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES at 03:15 PM DAVIS 106

  12. 2025-03-21 508

    (H) REFERRED TO HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES

  13. 2025-03-21 508

    (H) HSS, L&C

  14. 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