Government and associations: the numbers, the rules, the AI picture.

• ADA Title II web and mobile app rule (28 CFR Part 35, Subpart H)

  The Department of Justice rule requires state and local governments to make web content and mobile apps meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA. ADA.gov says the requirement covers content a third party provides on the government's behalf, such as a web design company's updates to a county page. An interim final rule published on April 20, 2026 extended the compliance dates. Governments of 50,000 people or more must comply by April 26, 2027, and smaller governments and special districts by April 26, 2028. Population comes from 2020 Census data, not from the number of people served. Exceptions cover qualifying archived content, older documents, unaffiliated third-party posts, individualized password-protected documents and older social media posts.

  What it means: Every page, form, PDF, payment flow and app your public body offers is in scope, including content your vendors post. Do not rely on an archive label to excuse a document people still use to apply for a service. Write accessibility into every vendor contract, test with a keyboard and a screen reader and fix forms and documents before the date that applies to you.

  [9] ada.gov

• ADA Title III and private associations

  Title III covers businesses open to the public. The Department of Justice guidance from March 18, 2022 says the ADA applies to goods and services offered on the web. It adds that no regulation sets detailed technical standards. It calls WCAG and the Section 508 standards helpful guidance and says the guidance itself has no legally binding effect. It also notes that it does not reflect the April 2024 Title II rule for state and local governments.

  What it means: A trade association, chamber or society is not a public body, so the Title II dates do not apply to it. Whether a given association site is covered by Title III depends on the facts and the courts. Build to WCAG 2.1 AA anyway: it is the measurable standard, it protects members with disabilities and it keeps join and event forms usable for everyone.

  [10] ada.gov

• Section 508, the 21st Century IDEA Act and the Plain Writing Act (federal agencies)

  The Revised 508 Standards say compliance is mandatory for federal agencies, and that ICT agencies procure, develop, maintain or use must conform. Electronic content must meet WCAG 2.0 Level A and AA. The 21st Century IDEA Act, approved December 20, 2018, sets eight requirements for new or redesigned executive agency sites. They must be accessible under Section 508, searchable, secure, user-centered and fully usable on mobile. The Plain Writing Act of 2010 requires executive agencies to use plain writing in covered documents.

  What it means: These bind federal agencies, not cities, counties or associations. They still matter if you sell software, content or events to federal agencies, because Section508.gov says acquisition rules require agencies to plan for accessibility in what they buy. For everyone else, the IDEA list and plain writing are a ready-made quality standard to adopt.

  [11] access-board.gov

• IRC 6033(e): lobbying and political expenditure notice on dues (501(c)(4), (c)(5) and (c)(6))

  Section 6033(e) covers organizations that spend on lobbying or political activity. When dues are assessed or paid, they must give members a reasonable estimate of the share of dues spent on it. An organization that skips or understates the notice owes a proxy tax at the highest corporate rate on the amount left out. It reports that tax on Form 990-T. The rule does not apply when in-house lobbying costs are $2,000 or less for the year. It also does not apply when substantially all dues are nondeductible anyway.

  What it means: The dues invoice, the renewal page and the online join flow must carry the lobbying notice when the rule applies. A slick new checkout that drops the notice creates a tax bill. Agree the wording and the percentage with your finance team and tax adviser each year, and make sure every billing channel, including auto-renew emails, shows it.

  [12] law.cornell.edu

• IRC 6113: "not deductible as a charitable contribution" disclosure

  Exempt organizations that are not charities, such as 501(c)(4) and 501(c)(6) groups, must disclose in each fundraising solicitation that gifts are not deductible as charitable contributions. The statement must be express, conspicuous and easily recognizable. The statute covers written or printed solicitations, television, radio and telephone. It does not apply to organizations whose gross receipts are normally $100,000 or less, or to letters and calls outside a campaign soliciting more than 10 people a year.

  What it means: An association that asks for contributions to an advocacy fund, a PAC-adjacent campaign or a general appeal needs this statement in the appeal, close to the ask. Do not let a donate button on a 501(c)(6) site imply a charitable deduction. If the association has a 501(c)(3) foundation, keep its giving pages separate and accurate.

  [13] law.cornell.edu

• Lobbying and campaign limits for 501(c)(3) foundations and 501(c)(6) leagues

  The IRS says a 501(c)(6) business league is not disqualified merely for some political activity. It may lobby on issues that further its exempt purpose, subject to the dues notice or proxy tax. A 501(c)(3) is different. The IRS says lobbying may not be a substantial part of its activities. It is absolutely prohibited from taking part in any political campaign for or against a candidate. Nonpartisan voter education is generally allowed.

  What it means: Many associations run a 501(c)(6) and a 501(c)(3) foundation side by side. Keep advocacy content, action alerts and candidate information on the 501(c)(6) side, and keep the foundation's pages to education, research and charitable programs. Shared navigation and shared email lists blur the line, so label which entity is speaking on every page.

  [14] irs.gov

• FEC rules on trade association PAC solicitation (11 CFR 114.8)

  A trade association or its PAC may solicit stockholders and executive or administrative staff of member corporations, and their families. It needs each member corporation's prior, specific approval first. A corporation may approve only one trade association's solicitation per calendar year, and the association must keep a record of each approval for three years.

  What it means: A PAC page on a public association website is a solicitation channel, and the rule limits who may be asked. Do not run PAC appeals to the whole email list or as open ads. Keep PAC content to approved audiences, record the approvals and have election counsel sign off on how the PAC appears online.

  [15] law.cornell.edu

• The Hatch Act for state and local employees

  The Office of Special Counsel says the Hatch Act covers people principally employed by state, DC or local executive agencies. It applies when their work connects to programs funded by federal loans or grants. Covered employees may not use official authority or influence to affect an election, or coerce political contributions. OSC says candidates violate the Act by using official email, stationery, equipment or other resources for a campaign. Where a violation warrants dismissal, the agency must remove the employee or forfeit part of its federal assistance.

  What it means: Official websites, newsletters, social accounts and email lists are official resources. Keep candidate and campaign content off them, and do not let staff who run the channels use them for a campaign. OSC notes that state or local law may add restrictions, so ask counsel before you publish anything about a ballot measure or an election.

  [16] osc.gov

• State open meetings and public records laws: Texas and Florida as examples

  States set their own rules, and many now reach the website. Texas Government Code Section 551.056 requires cities, counties, school districts, junior colleges and other listed bodies with a website to post meeting notices and agendas there. The online posting runs concurrently with the physical one. A good-faith attempt defeated by a technical problem beyond the body's control does not invalidate the notice. Florida Statutes Section 668.6076 requires an agency website that uses email to post a conspicuous notice that email addresses are public records.

  What it means: Treat agenda posting, notice timing and records notices as features of the site, with owners and checks, not as afterthoughts. Build the agenda workflow so a clerk can post on time without a developer. Put the records notice beside every email link and contact form where your state requires it. Check your own state's statute, because the rules differ widely.

  [17] flsenate.gov

• CAN-SPAM Act for member and sponsor email, and CASL in Canada

  The FTC guide says commercial email needs accurate headers, an honest subject line, an ad disclosure, a postal address and an opt-out honored within 10 business days. Opt-outs from members count too, unless the message is transactional or relationship content. The FTC treats those categories narrowly, and the primary purpose of a mixed message decides. Each violating email can carry a penalty of up to $53,088. In Canada, CASL requires consent for commercial electronic messages. It implies consent for membership in a club, association or voluntary organization for two years after membership ends.

  What it means: A renewal notice may be relationship content, but a newsletter that promotes a sponsor, a paid event or a partner offer is likely commercial. Put an opt-out and a postal address in every promotional send, honor it across all lists and hold your email vendor to it. For Canadian members, track when each membership ended so you stop relying on implied consent after two years.

  [7] ftc.gov

• Canada and the United Kingdom: accessibility rules that reach further

  In Ontario, the AODA covers designated public sector organizations and businesses and nonprofits with 50 or more employees. Since January 1, 2021, their public websites must meet WCAG 2.0 Level AA, except live captions and pre-recorded audio description. In the UK, GOV.UK guidance says public sector bodies must meet WCAG 2.2 AA and publish an accessibility statement. Charities and other non-government bodies are exempt unless mostly publicly funded, providing essential public services or aimed at disabled people.

  What it means: An Ontario association with 50 or more staff is covered even though it is private, which US associations are not under Title II. UK public bodies need a published accessibility statement, reviewed regularly, and the Government Digital Service monitors a sample of sites each year. Build to the stricter standard if you operate in more than one country.

  [18] gov.uk

This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules differ by state, by entity type and by country, and tax and election rules change. Confirm with your counsel, your tax adviser, your records officer or your regulator before you publish dues notices, advocacy content, PAC pages or meeting notices.