Technology Bills Across the Country

in committee · United States · Senate Aug 4, 2026

S 5226: Parental Approval for Youth Social Media Act of 2026

This bill requires social media companies to obtain verifiable parental consent before allowing anyone under 16 to create or maintain an account. If consent is provided, the platform must set up the account as a parent-supervised profile, giving parents tools to manage privacy settings, limit screen time, control communications, and monitor activity. The Federal Trade Commission will establish rules for verifying age and consent, while state attorneys general are authorized to enforce the law through civil actions. The legislation defines "child" as anyone under 16 and excludes services like email, text messaging, and educational platforms from its requirements.

Topics ✗ Technology

Sub-Topics Online Safety Social Media

in committee · United States · Senate Aug 3, 2026

S 5215: Cleaner Transportation Access for All Act

The Cleaner Transportation Access for All Act extends federal tax credits for purchasing clean vehicles and installing charging equipment through 2031, while also allowing a higher credit amount for home charging installations. It establishes a new Joint Office of Energy and Transportation to coordinate federal efforts on electric vehicle infrastructure and creates an Electric Vehicle Commission to study industry needs and safety issues. The legislation authorizes billions in funding to expand charging networks, with specific requirements that states prioritize underserved communities and medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. Additionally, the bill mandates that electric vehicle charging stations be permitted on public curbsides and expands access to high-occupancy vehicle lanes for clean vehicles.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Energy ✓ Environment ✓ Technology ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Procurement Electric Vehicles Electric Vehicles

in committee · United States · Senate Jul 29, 2026

S 5157: Reimagining Education and Skills through Unified Longitudinal Talent Systems (RESULTS) Act of 2026

The RESULTS Act of 2026 provides federal funding to help states build and modernize systems that connect data across education and workforce sectors, from early childhood programs to employment outcomes. These grants require states to create secure databases that link records from schools, colleges, and job training programs while protecting student privacy and allowing for data analysis by researchers and policymakers. The bill also mandates that states establish specific leadership roles, such as a Chief Data Officer, and use the funds to improve how they report on student success and labor market trends. Additionally, the legislation updates existing rules to allow states to use national wage records for measuring job placement outcomes and encourages the adoption of standardized data formats to ensure information can be easily shared across different states.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education Workforce Development

in committee · United States · Senate Jul 21, 2026

S 5055: National Workforce Transition Fund Act of 2026

This bill creates a temporary National Workforce Transition Fund to help workers and employers manage labor market changes caused by artificial intelligence and emerging technologies. The fund is financed by exempting AI data centers from certain tax depreciation limits, with the resulting revenue transferred to the Treasury and then allocated to the fund over five years. A new National Workforce Transition Board will oversee the program, developing strategies to assess workforce impacts and directing resources toward training, job placement, and employer retention initiatives. The legislation prioritizes support for workers facing employment disruption without requiring them to prove that technology was the sole cause of their job loss, while also funding improvements to labor market data systems. All provisions related to the fund and workforce activities are set to expire five years after the bill is enacted.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Labor & Employment ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Workforce Development Artificial Intelligence

in committee · United States · Senate Aug 4, 2026

S 5224: Runway SAFE-T Act

The Runway SAFE-T Act establishes a task force to study and recommend improvements for driver training programs at airports, ensuring that ground vehicle operators receive consistent and modern safety instruction. Additionally, the bill authorizes federal grants from 2027 to 2031 to help airports purchase advanced technologies, such as sensors and simulation systems, that enhance situational awareness and reduce vehicle-related safety incidents on airport runways and taxiways. These grants are intended to assist airport sponsors in overcoming barriers like cost and workforce availability while prioritizing projects tailored to specific airport layouts and safety needs.

Topics ✓ Technology ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Airports

in committee · United States · House Aug 3, 2026

HR 10034: RECOVER PII Act

The RECOVER PII Act expands identity protection coverage for individuals affected by federal data breaches, extending the duration of such coverage to the remainder of their lives and increasing insurance limits to at least $5 million. It also allows federal agencies to use appropriated funds to fully reimburse employees or contractors for costs associated with privacy-enhancing services, such as software or hardware that reduces personal data risks. These changes aim to provide long-term security support and financial assistance to victims of government data incidents without specifying which agencies or individuals are directly impacted.

Topics ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Consumer Data Protection Cybersecurity Data Privacy

in committee · United States · Senate Aug 3, 2026

S 5220: Clean Transportation Jobs and Development Act of 2026

The Clean Transportation Jobs and Development Act of 2026 directs the Department of Energy to expand funding and oversight for battery manufacturing, critical mineral processing, and advanced vehicle technologies through 2031. A primary provision increases the authorized budget for battery processing grants to $6 billion for fiscal years 2027 through 2031, while also requiring applicants to include specific workforce safety and fire prevention plans. The bill establishes a new Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation to coordinate supply chain resilience and manages multiple research programs focused on extreme-fast charging, vehicle safety, and heavy-duty commercial vehicle electrification. Additionally, the legislation authorizes over $3 billion in total funding for these research and development activities across five fiscal years to support domestic manufacturing and reduce reliance on foreign energy sources.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Energy ✓ Environment ✓ Labor & Employment ✓ Technology ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Electric Vehicles Energy Storage Electric Vehicles

introduced · Hawaii · Senate Jul 14, 2026

GM 1349: Informing the Legislature that on July 14, 2026, the Governor signed the following bill into law: HB2137 HD3 SD2 CD1 (ACT 247).

This bill, signed into law as Act 247, establishes legal protections in Hawaii against the malicious use of artificial intelligence to create realistic digital imitations of real people. It directly affects individuals whose likeness, voice, or face could be used without permission for harmful purposes such as fraud, defamation, or commercial advertising. The law prohibits publishing these AI-generated imitations without consent when they are used in ads, cause harm, or facilitate criminal acts, while explicitly exempting uses for parody, satire, news reporting, and historical documentation. Additionally, the act provides civil remedies for victims who suffer reputational injury, financial loss, or emotional distress from unauthorized deepfakes.

Topics ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence

introduced · Hawaii · Senate Jul 14, 2026

GM 1355: Informing the Legislature that on July 14, 2026, the Governor signed the following bill into law: SB888 SD2 HD2 CD1 (ACT 253).

This bill prohibits companies that make smart home security devices from sharing user data with law enforcement unless specific conditions are met. Data sharing is only allowed if the user gives written consent, a judge issues a warrant, or an immediate emergency involving imminent death or serious bodily harm exists. The law also bans companies from forcing users to agree to data sharing as a requirement to use their devices. Violations of these rules can result in penalties and legal action by the state attorney general, but private individuals cannot sue under this specific section.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Judges Law Enforcement

introduced · Hawaii · Senate Jul 10, 2026

GM 1326: Informing the Legislature that on July 9, 2026, the Governor signed the following bill into law: HB1642 HD1 SD1 CD1 (ACT 224).

This bill prohibits the operation of cryptocurrency kiosks in Hawaii that accept cash from customers in exchange for digital assets, effective October 1, 2026. The legislation aims to protect residents from financial scams by banning machines that allow users to insert physical currency to purchase digital financial assets. While the law still permits these kiosks to function if they accept digital assets to buy other digital assets or to dispense cash, it specifically targets the cash-to-crypto transaction model. The measure applies to anyone who owns, operates, or manages such kiosks within the state.