H.R. 5147: Bathrooms Accessible in Every Situation Act

114th Congress · introduced 2016-04-29 · Government Operations and Politics · Latest: Became Public Law No: 114-235.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2016-04-29 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Cicilline, David N. [D-RI-1] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: 1 recorded vote in our records. Latest: House roll call 541 (2016): On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, HR5147 (2016-09-21), Passed. See all
Where it stands now: Became Public Law No: 114-235. (final step reached)
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Bathrooms Accessible in Every Situation Act

Plain summary

(This measure has not been amended since it passed the House on September 21, 2016. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Bathrooms Accessible in Every Situation or BABIES Act (Sec. 2) This bill requires restrooms in a public building to be equipped with baby changing facilities that the General Services Administration (GSA) determines are physically safe, sanitary, and appropriate. "Public building" means a public building controlled by the GSA's Public Building Service. Such requirement shall be subject to any reasonable accommodations that may be made for individuals in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Such requirement shall be inapplicable: to a restroom in a public building that is not available or accessible for public use, to a restroom that contains clear and conspicuous signage indicating where a restroom with a baby changing table is located on the same floor of such building, if new construction would be required to install a baby changing facility in the building and the cost of such construction is unfeasible, or to a building not subject to an alteration for which any appropriations must be approved by the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works and the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed Senate without amendment), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Bathrooms Accessible in Every Situation Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Passed Senate without amendment)

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Cicilline, David N. [D-RI-1] · 28 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 5147, BABIES Act (2016-09-20)

Cosponsors on this site

Rosa L. DeLauro (D-CT), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Grace Meng (D-NY), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Linda T. Sánchez (D-CA), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Janice D. Schakowsky (D-IL), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Doris O. Matsui (D-CA)

Recorded votes

House roll call 541 (2016): On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, HR5147 (2016-09-21): Passed

Words on this page, explained (2)

Appropriation: Money a legislature sets aside by law for a specific purpose. Government agencies may spend public money only as it has been appropriated.
Bill: A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed Senate without amendment)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-114hr5147.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/114/hr>

Record fed-us-cong114-hr5147 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong114 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong114