Long story short – it is in the last phase before official “release” or as World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) calls it – a recommendation. People not familiar with W3C types of documents (opens in new window) may be confused by “proposed recommendation”, but yes, it’s the recommendation that is not quite final yet.
A Proposed Recommendation is a specification that has been accepted by W3C as of sufficient quality to become a Standard. Such specification has been reviewed by software developers, as well as by W3C Groups and other interested parties. It is published for a final review by W3C Members before approval by the W3C Director.
Official W3C definition of Proposed Recommendation (opens in new window).
So basically people responsible for the standard (in this case the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.2 (opens in new window)) decided materials provide decent enough quality to become a standard if no major issues are found.
I suggest that you check the What’s new in WCAG 2.2 (opens in new window) and process the new criteria and how they are affecting you.
In my WCAG 2.2 brings more bad news for sticky elements and more good news for users post I briefly describe one of the new success criterion that seems to need some extra attention, especially if you are using so called sticky elements (please test them properly).
I also suggest reading Yatils post New WCAG 2.2 features rated (opens in new window) where he rates new success criteria by understandability, teachability, testability and impact.
When WCAG 2.2 actually becomes a Recommendation it will probably take some time until it is also a part of the legislation requirements, but I suspect it will not take a lot of time for it to be a part of European Web Accessibility Directive.
Waiting for legislation is of course an option but as we know from experience it is better to be proactive and make efforts now. The proposed recommendation is now very stable and not likely to change, so implementing new success criteria already now will for sure benefit your users. Plus learning about the implementations that will equip you for the near future.
