A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 33.2-267.2, relating to Department of Transportation; rest areas and welcome centers; adult changing stations.
HB1032 requires the Virginia Department of Transportation to provide at least one adult changing station at all rest areas on interstate highways and at welcome centers operated by the Virginia Tourism Authority. The bill specifies that the station must be located either in a single-stall family restroom or as one station in both the men's and women's restrooms, and it allows the Department to meet the requirement by retrofitting or renovating existing facilities. It also requires signage and directs that the assistive table comply with the IAPMO Z1390-2024 Standard for Assistive Tables.
The bill defines an adult changing station as a designated area, room, or stall separated by walls, doors, or other barriers capable of being locked so a person may change clothes in private. It also delays implementation in most cases by stating that the Department is not required to install these stations before other renovations occur, except for rest areas and welcome centers opened or constructed on or after July 1, 2026, which must comply with the requirement.
HB1032 would add a new section to the Code of Virginia, § 33.2-267.2, creating a statewide accessibility requirement for certain transportation facilities. It would affect VDOT-managed interstate rest areas and Virginia Tourism Authority welcome centers by requiring adult changing stations, potentially triggering facility retrofits, signage updates, and compliance with a national assistive-table standard. The bill would primarily affect travelers with disabilities, caregivers, and families who need accessible private changing facilities, while giving the Department flexibility to phase in compliance during planned renovations.
The available record shows no committee transcript or recorded votes, so there is no direct evidence of debate or partisan division in the materials provided. Based on the bill text, the measure appears to be framed as an accessibility and public accommodations improvement, and its structure suggests an effort to balance that goal with implementation flexibility. The absence of recorded opposition or vote history makes the overall sentiment difficult to gauge beyond the bill's apparent policy intent.
The main potential point of contention is implementation cost and timing, since the bill requires new facilities or retrofits at a large number of rest areas and welcome centers but generally ties compliance to future renovations rather than immediate installation. Another possible issue is the scope of the mandate, including whether the requirement should apply to both interstate rest areas and tourism welcome centers and whether one station per facility is sufficient. Supporters would likely emphasize accessibility, dignity, and inclusion for people with disabilities and caregivers, while any skeptics would likely focus on fiscal impact, construction burdens, and operational feasibility.