Bathrooms Accessible in Every Situation Act
PL 114-235 (H.R.5147), enacted 10/07/2016

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 sec-
tions 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, ALTER-
ATION, 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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130 STAT. 965 
PUBLIC LAW 114–235—OCT. 7, 2016 
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. 
‘‘(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 Adminis-
tration.’’. 
(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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