130 STAT. 964 PUBLIC LAW 114–235—OCT. 7, 2016 

Public Law 114–235 

114th Congress 

An Act 

To amend title 40, United States Code, to require restrooms in public buildings 

to be equipped with baby changing facilities. 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 

the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Bathrooms Accessible in Every 

Situation Act’’ or ‘‘BABIES Act’’. 

SEC. 2. BABY CHANGING FACILITIES IN RESTROOMS IN PUBLIC 

BUILDINGS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 33 of title 40, United States Code, 

is amended— 

(1) by redesignating sections 3314, 3315, and 3316 as sections 3315, 3316, and 3317, respectively; and 

(2) by inserting after section 3313 the following new section: 

‘‘§ 3314. Baby changing facilities in restrooms 

‘‘(a) ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION, ALTERATION, AND ACQUISITION OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS.—Except as provided 

in subsection (b) and subject to any reasonable accommodations 

that may be made for individuals in accordance with the Americans 

with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.) restrooms in a 

public building shall be equipped with baby changing facilities 

that the Administrator determines are physically safe, sanitary, 

and appropriate. 

‘‘(b) EXCEPTIONS.—The requirement under subsection (a) shall 

not apply— 

‘‘(1) to a restroom in a public building that is not available 

or accessible for public use; 

‘‘(2) to a restroom in a public building that contains clear 

and conspicuous signage indicating where a restroom with a 

baby changing table is located on the same floor of such public 

building; 

‘‘(3) if new construction would be required to install a 

baby changing facility in the public building and the cost of 

such construction is unfeasible; or 

‘‘(4) to a building not subject to an alteration as set forth 

in section 3307. 

‘‘(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

‘‘(1) BABY CHANGING FACILITY.—The term ‘baby changing 

facility’ means a table or other device suitable for changing 

the diaper of a child age 3 or under. 

Determination. 

40 USC 3314. 

40 USC 101 note. 

Bathrooms 

Accessible in 

Every Situation 

Act. 

Oct. 7, 2016 

[H.R. 5147] 


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PUBLIC LAW 114–235—OCT. 7, 2016 130 STAT. 965 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 5147: 

HOUSE REPORTS: No. 114–774 (Comm. on Transportation and Infrastructure). 

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 162 (2016): 

Sept. 20, 21, considered and passed House. 

Sept. 29, considered and passed Senate. 

Æ 

‘‘(2) PUBIC BUILDING.—The term ‘public building’ means 

a public building as defined in section 3301 and controlled 

by the Public Building Service of the General Services Administration.’’. 

(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for such chapter is 

amended by striking the items relating to sections 3314, 3315, 

and 3316 and inserting the following: 

‘‘3314. Baby changing facilities in restrooms. 

‘‘3315. Delegation. 

‘‘3316. Report to Congress. 

‘‘3317. Certain authority not affected.’’. 

(c) APPLICABILITY.—The requirement under section 3314(a) of 

title 40, United States Code, shall apply in the case of a public 

building constructed, altered, or acquired by the Administrator 

of General Services on or after the date that is 1 year after the 

date of the enactment of this Act, beginning on that date. 

Approved October 7, 2016. 

Effective date. 

40 USC 3314 

note. 

40 USC 

3301 prec. 


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