Federal Compliance Deadline: April 26, 2026
The DOJ Title II final rule requires WCAG 2.1 Level AA compliance by April 26, 2026 for all state and local government entities serving populations of 50,000 or more. This deadline is approximately 5 weeks away. Non-compliance exposes agencies to enforcement actions, complaints under the ADA, and potential loss of federal funding. The findings below identify specific barriers that must be remediated before this deadline.
Executive Summary
High-level findings from automated WCAG 2.1 Level AA scans of New Mexico state agency homepages
Automated scanning of 11 New Mexico state agency websites identified 111 WCAG 2.1 Level AA errors across all scanned sites. Only one agency -- the Higher Education Department -- returned zero automated errors.
The most prevalent violation categories were duplicate HTML ID attributes (41 instances across 6 agencies), insufficient color contrast (30 instances across 3 agencies), disabled zoom/scaling (4 instances across 3 agencies), and ARIA role conflicts (9 instances across 2 agencies). A common theme across newer Divi-based sites is the meta viewport tag disabling user zoom, which blocks magnification for low-vision users. These patterns indicate systemic issues with shared website templates and design systems rather than isolated problems, meaning a platform-level remediation approach could efficiently address violations across multiple agencies simultaneously.
Note: Automated scanning typically identifies 30-40% of total accessibility barriers. Manual testing with assistive technologies (screen readers, keyboard-only navigation, switch devices) would likely uncover additional issues not detectable through automated means, including problems with reading order, focus management, and dynamic content updates.
Agency Scorecard
Automated error count per agency homepage -- sorted by severity
| Agency | Errors | Status | Top Issue Types |
|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Information Technology (DoIT) www.doit.nm.gov | 27 | Fail | Duplicate IDs (27) |
| Environment Department (NMED) www.env.nm.gov | 21 | Fail | Contrast (13) ARIA Roles (6) Duplicate IDs (2) |
| Administrative Office of the Courts www.nmcourts.gov | 19 | Fail | Contrast (14) Obsolete Markup (2) Empty Headings (1) Duplicate IDs (1) Form Labels (1) |
| Department of Finance & Administration (DFA) www.nmdfa.state.nm.us | 14 | Fail | Duplicate IDs (9) Button Names (2) Form Labels (2) Image Alt (1) |
| State Portal (nm.gov) www.nm.gov | 11 | Fail | Form Labels (4) Contrast (3) Select Names (2) Duplicate IDs (1) Image Alt (1) |
| Taxation & Revenue Department (TRD) www.tax.newmexico.gov | 8 | Needs Work | Empty Headings (4) ARIA Roles (3) Duplicate IDs (1) |
| Department of Transportation (NMDOT) dot.nm.gov | 4 | Needs Work | Zoom Disabled (2) Empty Link (1) List Structure (1) |
| Children, Youth & Families Department (CYFD) cyfd.nm.gov | 3 | Needs Work | Empty Links (2) Zoom Disabled (1) |
| General Services Department (GSD) generalservices.state.nm.us | 2 | Needs Work | Empty Link (1) Zoom Disabled (1) |
| Human Services Department (HSD) www.hsd.state.nm.us | 2 | Needs Work | Empty Link (1) Obsolete Markup (1) |
| Higher Education Department (HED) hed.nm.gov | 0 | Pass* | No automated errors detected |
* "Pass" indicates zero automated errors detected. Manual testing is still required for full WCAG 2.1 AA compliance verification.
Most Common Violations
Aggregated across all scanned agencies, ranked by frequency
Duplicate ID Attribute Values
Multiple HTML elements share the same id attribute value on the same page. This violates HTML specification and causes assistive technologies (screen readers, voice control) to become confused about which element is being referenced, potentially making entire sections of the page inaccessible.
id attributes to ensure uniqueness. This issue commonly stems from duplicated navigation menus (desktop vs. mobile) using the same IDs -- consider using CSS classes instead of IDs for styling, or append a suffix (e.g., _mobile) to distinguish duplicates.Insufficient Color Contrast
Text elements do not meet the minimum contrast ratio of 4.5:1 against their background color. Several instances showed contrast ratios as low as 1:1 (white text on white background) and 1.12:1, making text virtually invisible to users with low vision or color vision deficiencies.
ARIA Presentation Role Conflicts
Elements with role="presentation" contain child elements that have semantic meaning (e.g., links, buttons, form fields inside a presentational table). This strips the semantic structure from the child elements, making them invisible to assistive technologies.
role="presentation" from container elements that hold interactive or semantic content. If the intent is decorative, move interactive content outside the presentational container. Replace layout tables with CSS flexbox or grid.Missing Form Field Labels & Accessible Names
Form inputs (text fields, search boxes, select dropdowns, submit buttons) and links lack accessible names. This includes unlabelled form fields (4), text inputs without names (2), select dropdowns without names (2), hidden submit buttons without names (2), search inputs without names (1), and an empty anchor link (1). Screen reader users cannot determine the purpose of these controls.
<label> element using the for attribute, or add aria-label or aria-labelledby attributes. For search inputs, aria-label="Search" is a minimal fix. For submit buttons, add a value attribute. For empty links, add visible or aria-label text content.Empty Heading Tags
Heading elements (<h2>, etc.) exist in the page but contain no text content. Screen reader users rely on headings to navigate page structure -- empty headings create confusing "blank" landmarks that disrupt navigation.
Obsolete Presentational Markup
The deprecated <center> HTML tag is used for layout purposes. This tag was removed from the HTML5 specification and its use indicates outdated coding practices that may signal broader accessibility concerns.
<center> tags with CSS: use text-align: center for text centering or margin: 0 auto for block element centering.Image Alt Text / Title Conflicts
Images have empty alt="" attributes (marking them as decorative) but also have non-empty title attributes. This is contradictory: the image is both "decorative" and has descriptive text, confusing assistive technologies.
title attribute. If the image conveys meaning, provide a descriptive alt attribute value instead of leaving it empty.Zooming and Scaling Disabled
The <meta name="viewport"> tag uses user-scalable=no or maximum-scale=1.0, which prevents users from zooming the page on mobile devices. This blocks low-vision users from magnifying content and violates WCAG 1.4.4 (Resize Text). Found on 3 agencies using Divi-based themes.
user-scalable=no and maximum-scale=1.0 from the viewport meta tag. The tag should read: <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">. In Divi themes, this is often set in the theme options or injected by a plugin -- check Theme Options → General → Custom CSS and the header output template.Links Without Discernible Text
Anchor elements (<a>) exist in the page that have no text content, aria-label, or aria-labelledby attribute. Screen reader users encounter these as unlabelled links with no indication of their destination. Common culprits include logo links wrapping only an image with no alt text, and empty placeholder links in footer templates.
aria-label, or ensure wrapped images have descriptive alt attributes. For logo links: <a href="/" aria-label="Home - Agency Name">. Remove empty <a href="#"></a> placeholder elements entirely.Detailed Findings by Agency
Department of Information Technology (DoIT)
www.doit.nm.gov| WCAG Criteria | Description | Affected Element |
|---|---|---|
| 4.1.1 F77 | #menu-item-1944_desktop_0_tb_header | |
| 4.1.1 F77 | #menu-item-1945_desktop_0_tb_header | |
| 4.1.1 F77 | #menu-item-1927_desktop_0_tb_header | |
| 4.1.1 F77 | #menu-item-1946_desktop_0_tb_header | |
| 4.1.1 F77 | #menu-item-2868_desktop_0_tb_header | |
| 4.1.1 F77 | #menu-item-1952_desktop_0_tb_header | |
| 4.1.1 F77 | #menu-item-1947_desktop_0_tb_header | |
| 4.1.1 F77 | #menu-item-1949_desktop_0_tb_header | |
| 4.1.1 F77 | #menu-item-1950_desktop_0_tb_header | |
| 4.1.1 F77 | #menu-item-1948_desktop_0_tb_header | |
| 4.1.1 F77 | #menu-item-1951_desktop_0_tb_header | |
| 4.1.1 F77 | #menu-item-1811_desktop_0_tb_header | |
| 4.1.1 F77 | Multiple #menu-item-*_desktop_*_tb_header |
All 27 errors are duplicate ID violations caused by the Divi theme generating identical IDs for desktop and mobile navigation menus. A theme-level fix (Divi Builder configuration or custom child theme) would resolve all violations simultaneously.
Environment Department (NMED)
www.env.nm.gov| WCAG Criteria | Description | Affected Element |
|---|---|---|
| 1.4.3 G18.Fail | #frequently-viewed-menu-bar > li:nth-child(3) > span > a | |
| 1.4.3 G18.Fail | #frequently-viewed-menu-bar > li:nth-child(4) > span > a | |
| 1.4.3 G18.Fail | #frequently-viewed-menu-bar > li:nth-child(5) > span > a | |
| 1.4.3 G18.Fail | div.trumba_time (10 instances) | |
| 4.1.1 F77 | #menu-bar | |
| 4.1.1 F77 | #main-section | |
| 1.3.1 F92,ARIA4 | #secondary-menu-bar > li (6 instances) |
Primary issues: calendar widget time elements have severely low contrast (1.85:1), navigation menu uses conflicting ARIA roles, and the color-coded "frequently viewed" menu bar uses non-compliant color combinations.
Administrative Office of the Courts
www.nmcourts.gov| WCAG Criteria | Description | Affected Element |
|---|---|---|
| 1.4.3 G18.Fail | #page > nav > div > div > ul > li > a (7 instances) | |
| 1.4.3 G18.Fail | button.alm-load-more-btn | |
| 1.4.3 G18.Fail | #content > footer > div > center > center > nav > ul > li > a (5 instances) | |
| 1.4.3 G18.Fail | #Layer_1 > defs > style | |
| 4.1.2 H91 | input[type="search"][name="s"] | |
| 4.1.1 F77 | #site-search | |
| 1.3.1 H42.2 | #modal-leave-site-title | |
| 1.3.1 H49.Center | #content > footer > div > center |
Critical finding: Primary navigation registers 1:1 contrast ratio -- the text color is white and the element's own background is transparent. While the nav bar visually has a dark background (inherited from a parent), WCAG compliance requires that each element's own computed contrast meet the 4.5:1 threshold. Footer links at 1.12:1 are also severe. The ironically named "ADA & Accommodations" link in the footer is itself inaccessible at 1.12:1 contrast.
Department of Finance & Administration (DFA)
www.nmdfa.state.nm.us| WCAG Criteria | Description | Affected Element |
|---|---|---|
| 4.1.1 F77 | #menu-item-*_desktop_0_tb_header | |
| 4.1.2 H91 | input[type="submit"][style="display:none"] (2 instances) | |
| 4.1.2 H91 | #et_pb_search_0 > form > div > input | |
| 1.3.1 F68 | #et_pb_search_0 > form > div > input | |
| 1.1.1 H67.1 | Header logo img.wp-image-10395 |
Same Divi theme duplicate ID pattern as DoIT. Additionally, form inputs (search fields, submit buttons) lack accessible names, and the agency logo image has conflicting alt/title attributes.
State Portal (nm.gov)
www.nm.gov| WCAG Criteria | Description | Affected Element |
|---|---|---|
| 4.1.2 H91 | #et_pb_search_0 > form > div > input | |
| 1.3.1 F68 | #et_pb_search_0 > form > div > input | |
| 4.1.1 F77 | #main-menu-container | |
| 1.4.3 G18.Fail | #main-menu-container > div > div > div > div > div > p > span > a (3 instances) | |
| 4.1.2 H91 | select.agency-filter | |
| 1.3.1 F68 | select.agency-filter, select.tag-filter | |
| 1.1.1 H67.1 | img[title="news-alerts"] |
Taxation & Revenue Department (TRD)
www.tax.newmexico.gov| WCAG Criteria | Description | Affected Element |
|---|---|---|
| 4.1.1 F77 | #google_translate_element2 | |
| 1.3.1 H42.2 | #post-2 > div > div > div > div > div > div > div > div > div > div > div > h2 (4 instances) | |
| 1.3.1 F92,ARIA4 | table.gsc-search-box, #gs_id50, body > table (3 instances) |
The Google Custom Search and Google Translate widgets introduce ARIA role conflicts. Empty headings suggest JavaScript-populated content that isn't rendering during the accessibility scan, which may also affect real users on slow connections.
Human Services Department (HSD)
www.hsd.state.nm.us| WCAG Criteria | Description | Affected Element |
|---|---|---|
| 4.1.2 H91.A | #cmplz-cookiebanner-container > div > div > ul > li > a | |
| 1.3.1 H49.Center | #post-7 > div > div > div > div > div > div > div > div > center |
Lowest automated error count among scanned sites. One new issue detected in the cookie consent banner: an empty link element. The other violation is minor (deprecated HTML tag). Manual testing recommended given the limited interactive content on the homepage.
Higher Education Department (HED)
hed.nm.govNo Automated Errors Detected
This site returned zero WCAG 2.1 Level AA errors from automated scanning. This is a positive indicator but does not guarantee full compliance. Manual testing with assistive technologies is still recommended to verify keyboard navigation, screen reader compatibility, and dynamic content accessibility.
Department of Transportation (NMDOT)
dot.nm.gov| WCAG Criteria | Description | Affected Element |
|---|---|---|
| 1.4.4 meta-viewport | meta[name="viewport"] (2 instances) | |
| 2.4.4 / 4.1.2 link-name | .et_pb_menu__logo > a[role="link"] | |
| 1.3.1 list | .et_pb_text_inner > ul |
The most critical issue is the duplicated viewport meta tag disabling zoom -- a Divi theme default that should be overridden in theme options. The logo link fix requires adding aria-label="Home - NMDOT" or alt text to the logo image.
Children, Youth & Families Department (CYFD)
cyfd.nm.gov| WCAG Criteria | Description | Affected Element |
|---|---|---|
| 2.4.4 / 4.1.2 link-name | .et_pb_text_0_tb_footer a, .et_pb_text_1_tb_footer a (2 instances) | |
| 1.4.4 meta-viewport | meta[name="viewport"] |
The empty footer links appear to be remnants of the Divi footer builder template -- they should be removed entirely or given meaningful content. The viewport zoom restriction is the same Divi theme default seen on NMDOT and GSD.
General Services Department (GSD)
generalservices.state.nm.us| WCAG Criteria | Description | Affected Element |
|---|---|---|
| 2.4.4 / 4.1.2 link-name | .et_pb_menu__logo > a[role="link"] | |
| 1.4.4 meta-viewport | meta[name="viewport"] |
Same two-issue pattern as other Divi-based state sites: logo link without accessible text and viewport zoom disabled. Both are quick fixes at the theme configuration level.