Web Accessibility Laws by State
Federal ADA Title III applies to business websites in every state, but the litigation climate is anything but uniform. State civil rights statutes, statutory damages, and the local plaintiff's bar all shape how much accessibility risk a business actually carries.
The table below ranks 27 states and Washington, D.C. by annual ADA web accessibility lawsuit activity, alongside each jurisdiction's disability rate and notable state law. Select a state for a detailed breakdown of its statutes, enforcement climate, and how to reduce your exposure.
The National Picture
3,117
Federal ADA web accessibility lawsuits filed in 2025 (UsableNet)
~40%
Of federal filings originate in New York alone
~13%
National share of the population with a disability (Census ACS)
State-by-State Accessibility Risk
Ranked by estimated annual ADA web accessibility lawsuit activity. State figures are directional, apportioned from the national UsableNet total by each state's historical share of filings.
| State | ADA Web Lawsuits/Year | Disability Rate | Litigation Risk | Notable State Law |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | ~1,250 | 11.5% | High | New York State Human Rights Law |
| California | ~499 | 10.6% | High | Unruh Civil Rights Act |
| Florida | ~288 | 13.4% | High | Florida Civil Rights Act |
| Texas | ~135 | 12.1% | Moderate | Texas Human Resources Code Ch. 121 |
| Illinois | ~123 | 10.9% | Moderate | Illinois Human Rights Act |
| New Jersey | ~110 | 10.7% | High | New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (NJLAD) |
| Pennsylvania | ~89 | 14.1% | Moderate | Pennsylvania Human Relations Act |
| Georgia | ~63 | 12.5% | Moderate | Federal ADA only |
| Massachusetts | ~55 | 12.2% | Moderate | Massachusetts Chapter 93A Consumer Protection |
| Ohio | ~47 | 14.2% | Moderate | Ohio Civil Rights Act |
| Maryland | ~42 | 11.3% | Moderate | Maryland Disabled Persons Act |
| Michigan | ~38 | 14.9% | Moderate | Michigan Persons with Disabilities Civil Rights Act |
| North Carolina | ~38 | 13.6% | Moderate | North Carolina Persons with Disabilities Protection Act |
| Washington | ~38 | 14.1% | Moderate | Washington Law Against Discrimination (WLAD) |
| Arizona | ~34 | 13% | Moderate | Arizona Civil Rights Act |
| Colorado | ~30 | 10.8% | Moderate | Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act (CADA) |
| Missouri | ~30 | 14.5% | Moderate | Missouri Human Rights Act |
| Tennessee | ~30 | 15.5% | Moderate | Tennessee Human Rights Act |
| Indiana | ~25 | 14.3% | Lower | Indiana Civil Rights Law |
| Minnesota | ~25 | 11.2% | Moderate | Minnesota Human Rights Act |
| Oregon | ~25 | 15.2% | Moderate | Oregon Equality Act |
| Nevada | ~21 | 12.3% | Moderate | Nevada Equal Rights Commission |
| Wisconsin | ~21 | 12% | Lower | Wisconsin Open Housing and Public Accommodation Law |
| Washington, D.C. | ~19 | 12% | High | DC Human Rights Act |
| Kentucky | ~17 | 17.3% | Lower | Kentucky Civil Rights Act |
| New Mexico | ~13 | 15.1% | Lower | New Mexico Human Rights Act |
| Utah | ~13 | 10.1% | Lower | Utah Anti-Discrimination Act |
See Where Your Site Stands in Any State
Accessibility risk follows your customers, not your headquarters. Enter your URL below to scan 100+ accessibility checks against WCAG 2.2 Level A and AA in seconds. Free, no signup required.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do individual states have their own web accessibility laws?
Yes. Federal ADA Title III applies nationwide, but many states layer their own civil rights and public accommodation statutes on top of it. California's Unruh Civil Rights Act, New York's Human Rights Law, and New Jersey's Law Against Discrimination are frequently cited alongside federal ADA claims and can add state-level damages that the ADA alone does not provide.
Which states have the most ADA website lawsuits?
New York and California account for the large majority of federal ADA web accessibility filings, with Florida a distant third. New York alone represents roughly 40% of federal filings. UsableNet counted 3,117 federal ADA web accessibility lawsuits in 2025, and the concentration in a handful of plaintiff-friendly states is one of the most consistent patterns year over year.
If my business is in a low-risk state, can I ignore accessibility?
No. Federal ADA Title III applies regardless of your state, and serial plaintiffs routinely file against businesses in lower-activity states, often in federal court. A lower litigation rate reflects historical filing patterns, not a safe harbor. Every state in this dataset has a meaningful share of residents with disabilities who rely on accessible websites.
How does automated scanning fit into state compliance?
Automated accessibility scanning detects roughly 30 to 40% of WCAG success criteria failures, such as missing alt text, low color contrast, unlabeled form fields, and ARIA misuse. It is the fastest way to find and fix machine-detectable issues, but it does not replace manual testing or legal advice. Use it as the first step toward WCAG 2.2 Level AA conformance in any jurisdiction.