The Data Science and Literacy Act of 2026 establishes a competitive grant program administered by the Secretary of Education to support state agencies, local school districts, tribal schools, and higher education institutions in expanding data literacy and statistics education from pre-kindergarten through postsecondary levels. Eligible recipients must use funds for activities such as developing new curricula, providing professional development for teachers, and creating partnerships with industry or community organizations to reduce access gaps for underrepresented students. The bill authorizes $10 million annually for fiscal years 2027 through 2031, requiring grantees to submit biannual reports on student outcomes disaggregated by race, ethnicity, gender, and income status. Additionally, the legislation amends existing federal law to require the collection of demographic and background data on secondary school STEM teachers in each state every five years.
The STORMWATER Act extends the funding period for stormwater control infrastructure technology centers from fiscal years 2022-2026 to 2027-2031. It mandates that exactly five of these centers be established, rather than a range of three to five as previously allowed. Additionally, the bill requires that one of the designated centers be located in and focused on the Great Lakes region.
The AI Advertising Disclosure Act requires companies operating AI chatbots and generative search features with over 50,000 monthly users to clearly disclose when their responses are influenced by paid partnerships or commercial arrangements. These disclosures must be visible without scrolling, use plain language, and identify the specific nature of the sponsorship, while also prohibiting AI systems from denying they are artificial or hiding sponsored content behind organic-looking answers. The bill grants the Federal Trade Commission authority to enforce these rules and allows state attorneys general and private individuals to sue for violations, with potential penalties including triple damages for willful misconduct.
The Doctors Not AI Act of 2026 prohibits health insurance plans from using artificial intelligence systems to issue or dictate adverse benefit determinations that involve clinical judgment, such as decisions based on medical necessity or treatment appropriateness. Instead, these determinations must be made by a licensed healthcare professional who conducts an independent evaluation of the patient's specific medical circumstances without deferring to AI outputs. The bill requires insurers to disclose in written notices if any AI system was used during the review process and mandates that detailed documentation regarding the AI's role and outputs be maintained as part of the administrative record, available to patients upon request. Additionally, the legislation classifies the use of AI in utilization review as a treatment limitation for parity purposes, ensuring it is evaluated equally across mental health and medical-surgical benefits under existing federal laws.
This bill requires contractors to submit an "artificial intelligence functional bill of materials" before the Department of Defense can enter into, renew, or extend any contract for goods or services that utilize artificial intelligence. This document must provide a detailed, machine-readable inventory of the specific software models, data sources, and hardware infrastructure supporting the AI system to allow the military to assess security risks and vulnerabilities. The legislation also mandates that existing software supply chain rules apply to AI systems and requires the Department of Defense to issue cybersecurity guidelines for securely storing these inventories.
This bill, titled the No TSA Data for ICE Act, prohibits the Transportation Security Administration from sharing passenger data with U.S. Customs and Border Protection or U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. It specifically bars these agencies from using TSA information or data from private brokers to perform immigration enforcement functions. Additionally, the legislation prevents the denial, suspension, or early termination of Trusted Traveler programs like PreCheck and Global Entry if an individual's participation in First Amendment-protected activities is the reason. The law defines the restricted data as personally identifiable information about flight passengers obtained from the TSA or private sector entities.
The Online Sellers' Bill of Rights Act of 2026 aims to protect third-party businesses using major online marketplaces by requiring these platforms to provide greater transparency and due process. Under the bill, the Federal Trade Commission must create rules that limit how long platforms can hold inventory or freeze funds, mandate written notice within 72 hours for any restrictions, and ensure sellers receive at least 30 days' warning before significant policy changes. The law also establishes a presumption of innocence, placing the burden of proof on the platform to demonstrate a violation rather than on the seller, and allows for specific appeals processes. Enforcement is handled through the FTC, which can pursue violations as unfair competition, while state attorneys general and individual sellers retain the right to file civil lawsuits for damages.
This bill establishes the Advanced Artificial Intelligence Nuclear Evaluation Program, requiring large AI developers to submit their systems for government testing to prevent incidents involving nuclear weapons or critical infrastructure. Under the program, the Department of Energy will conduct security assessments, including adversarial "jailbreaking" attempts and third-party reviews, to identify risks and develop safety protocols. Developers who refuse to participate or withhold necessary data face civil penalties of up to $1 million per day, while the information they provide remains confidential unless specific legal exceptions apply. Additionally, the Secretary of Energy must submit annual reports to Congress with recommendations for future legislation to further regulate AI safety and oversight.
The Quiet Skies Act directs the Secretary of Transportation to create new regulations banning voice calls on cell phones in the United States. This rule must be finalized within 180 days of the law's enactment and will apply to all air travelers. The bill aims to reduce noise on airplanes by prohibiting passengers from making or receiving phone calls while in flight.
The Defending Our Energy and Water Act directs the Administrator of the Office of Electronic Government to update minimum requirements for new federal data centers, mandating the use of the most water-efficient cooling systems. This update must be completed within 180 days of the bill's enactment. Additionally, the legislation extends a previous deadline for reviewing data center standards from 2026 to 2031 and requires the Department of Defense to identify and integrate water efficiency technologies to protect water resources. These changes apply specifically to federal data centers and aim to minimize their operational impact on water supplies.
