Harrisburg, PA, April 27, 2026 – Senator Tina Tartaglione (D-2, Philadelphia) today announced that the Pennsylvania House of Representatives has passed her legislation, Senate Bill 867, with overwhelming bipartisan support, marking a major step forward in restoring and modernizing the Commonwealth’s process for adopting updated accessibility standards in building codes.
“For people with disabilities, accessibility is absolutely essential,” said Senator Tartaglione. “With the House’s strong support, we are one step closer to ensuring Pennsylvania no longer falls behind and instead moves forward with modern, practical standards that allow everyone to fully participate in their communities.”
Accessibility provisions, such as requirements for ramps, elevators, door widths, and restroom accommodations, are updated every three years by the International Code Council (ICC), the most widely used standard-setting body in the country. Until 2022, Pennsylvania automatically adopted these updates through the Department of Labor and Industry.
However, a Commonwealth Court decision struck down that process as an unconstitutional delegation of legislative authority, leaving Pennsylvania reliant on outdated 2018 standards with no mechanism to adopt future updates.
Senate Bill 867 addresses this gap by establishing a clear, transparent framework for reviewing and adopting updated accessibility codes. The legislation empowers the Pennsylvania Accessibility Advisory Board (AAB) to lead the process, ensuring decisions are informed by individuals with lived experience and subject matter expertise.
“The Accessibility Advisory Board is uniquely qualified to take on this responsibility,” Tartaglione added. “This bill ensures that the voices of people with disabilities are centered in decisions that directly impact their daily lives.”
Under the bill, proposed updates will include a public comment period, at least one public hearing, and a thorough evaluation of their impact on public health, safety, and welfare, as well as economic considerations and technical feasibility.
Senate Bill 867 reflects months of collaboration among lawmakers, the Department of Labor and Industry, and key stakeholders, and passed both chambers with near-unanimous support.
“With this vote, the General Assembly is sending a clear message that accessibility matters,” Tartaglione said. “It’s common sense to solve this problem early so that every Pennsylvanian can navigate their community safely and independently in the future.”
Senator Tartaglione thanks Senators Robinson and Kane for their collaboration on this legislation. The bill now heads to the Governor’s desk for signature.
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