NSDC was pleased to see the latest DOJ rule’s regarding ADA compliance with a definition of “special district government” as its own category.

Search for “special district” and you’ll find the definition here:

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/04/24/2024-07758/nondiscrimination-on-the-basis-of-disability-accessibility-of-web-information-and-services-of-state

This rule sets compliance deadliness for state and local governments with 50,000+ population at April 24, 2026, and for state and local government with under 50,000 population and separately for ‘special district governments’ as April 24, 2027.  

It differentiates “special district governments” as its own category.   “Special district government means a public entity—other than a county, municipality, township, or independent school district—authorized by State law to provide one function or a limited number of designated functions with sufficient administrative and fiscal autonomy to qualify as a separate government and whose population is not calculated by the United States Census Bureau in the most recent decennial Census or Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates.”**