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Alabama Senate approves bill requiring adult-size changing tables in public buildings

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4 months ago

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alabamareflector.com – Alander Rocha – 2025-02-28 07:01:00

Alabama Senate approves bill requiring adult-size changing tables in public buildings

by Alander Rocha, Alabama Reflector
February 28, 2025

The Alabama Senate unanimously passed a bill to require adult-size changing tables be installed in public buildings.

SB 83, sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, would require the changing tables to be powered and height-adjustable and be installed in newly constructed or renovated public buildings starting in 2028. The bill passed 27-0.

“These families are citizens, our people, and need to be treated with respect and assistance. They’ve got a very hard life, more challenges, and the government, at all levels, can help them with these challenges,” Orr said.

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Just over 9% of Alabamians have an ambulatory disability, meaning they have a physical impairment that affects their ability to walk and move around independently. That is above the national average of 6.7%, according to the United States Census Bureau.

The legislation would only apply to new construction and renovations that cost more than $500,000.

Installing a changing table in a public building would cost the state and local entities at least $15,000, and that price would be revised every three years starting in 2030 based on the Consumer Price Index percentage increase. The fiscal note said the cost could be offset by grants through legislative appropriations.

“It’s a small price to pay. I wouldn’t call it a price to pay. It’s taking everybody into consideration,”  Orr said.

Sen. Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham, called the legislation a “good bill.”

“I commend you for bringing this. I think that is the highest level of sensitivity that we can deal with,” Smitherman said.

Orr amended the bill twice on the floor. One amendment exempted public K-12 schools, and public universities and colleges.

Orr introduced the bill after a constituent, June Wilson, told him about her struggles with changing her 4-year-old son’s diaper. Wilson testified when the bill was considered in committee, saying that

“She’s had people be pretty unkind when she had to change the child in the back of a hatchback vehicle in a parking lot … just being very insensitive to the situation. And so we’re able to pass this and at least lead by example as a state,” Orr said.

The bill moves to the House.

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Alabama Reflector is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Alabama Reflector maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Brian Lyman for questions: info@alabamareflector.com.

The post Alabama Senate approves bill requiring adult-size changing tables in public buildings appeared first on alabamareflector.com

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