Accessibility requirements for Montana government procurement
Montana maintains its own IT accessibility standard in addition to the federal requirements that bind every jurisdiction.
What binds a Montana purchase
ADA Title II — WCAG 2.1 Level AA
Applies to the web content and mobile apps of every state and local government entity in Montana, whoever built the software. Compliance dates:
- 26 April 2027 — entities serving 50,000 or more
- 26 April 2028 — entities serving under 50,000, and special district governments
Software bought today will still be in service on those dates, which is what makes this a procurement question rather than an IT one.
Section 508 — where federal funds are involved
Governs federal procurement and reaches a great deal of Montana spending through federal funding, including most public universities. It incorporates WCAG 2.0 Level AA, and adds chapter requirements that WCAG does not cover — functional performance, software, and support documentation.
If your solicitation cites Section 508, a WCAG-edition conformance report does not answer it. The editions explained.
Montana access to information technology (18-5-601 to 605, MCA)
Mont. Code Ann. §§ 18-5-601 to 18-5-605
Enacted as HB 239 by the 2001 Legislature to provide access to information technology for individuals who are blind or visually impaired. It sits in Title 18 of the Montana Code — public contracts — rather than in the technology title. The State Information Technology Services Division runs a Digital Accessibility Resource Center covering ADA Title II and WCAG 2.1 Level AA.
Read Montana’s own pageWhat Montana names, and what the ADA now requires
Montana’s own standard
Nonvisual access for people who are blind or visually impaired
ADA Title II, from 26 April 2027
WCAG 2.1 Level AA
The state standard is the lower bar
A vendor can satisfy what Montana names and still not satisfy what ADA Title II will require of you. If your solicitation cites only the Montana rule, the conformance report you get back is scoped to the Montana rule — and the federal gap becomes yours to close after award. Cite both.
What this means when a vendor sends you a report
- Name the standard in the solicitation. The edition a vendor sends back is chosen to match what you asked for. Ask for nothing specific and you will get the edition that flatters the product.
- Ask during evaluation, not after award. Before the contract your leverage is the award itself; after it, your leverage is a change order.
- Keep the record. What you required, what the vendor disclosed, what you challenged and when. If conformance is ever questioned, that record is the useful artifact — not the software.
Section508.gov — State-level Accessibility Law and Policy does not list Montana. The entry above was researched from Montana’s own statute, regulation or policy page in August 2026 and links to it directly. General guidance for procurement planning, not legal advice — verify against the statute or policy that applies to your entity, and check the current status of any pending legislation named above.