Technology

in committee · United States · Senate Aug 7, 2026

S 5368: Water Cyber Shield Act of 2026

The Water Cyber Shield Act of 2026 mandates cybersecurity risk assessments and emergency response plans for community water systems serving more than 3,300 people and large wastewater treatment facilities serving over 10,000 people with a design flow rate of at least one million gallons. The bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency to establish baseline cybersecurity standards in collaboration with federal agencies and industry experts, while authorizing states to assume primary enforcement responsibilities if they demonstrate adequate capacity and security protocols. It allocates $300 million annually for fiscal years 2027 through 2032 to help water systems build cybersecurity resilience, prioritizing assistance for facilities with the greatest need for resources or expertise. Additionally, the legislation expands cyber incident reporting obligations under the Homeland Security Act to include these specific water infrastructure entities and requires that submitted security documentation be protected from public disclosure under federal and state freedom of information laws.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentThe bill mandates cybersecurity standards for water systems via the EPA, strengthening infrastructure protection and environmental safety.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyThe bill mandates cybersecurity risk assessments and establishes baseline standards for water systems, directly enhancing cybersecurity infrastructure.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drinking Water Water Quality Cybersecurity

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in committee · United States · House Aug 27, 2026

HR 10151: Water Authority Cybersecurity Protection Act

The Water Authority Cybersecurity Protection Act extends the Drinking Water Infrastructure Risk and Resilience Program through fiscal years 2028 and 2029, replacing the previous expiration dates of 2020 and 2021. The bill doubles the authorized funding for technical assistance to $10 million and for grants to small water systems to $20 million. Additionally, it increases the total annual authorization of appropriations for the program from $25 million to $50 million. These changes directly affect public water utilities by providing continued financial support for cybersecurity improvements and risk management.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly increases federal appropriations and grants for water infrastructure, directly funding public services.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentExtends and funds the Drinking Water Infrastructure Risk and Resilience Program, strengthening protection of water resources.75% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyThe bill explicitly funds cybersecurity protection for water infrastructure, doubling technical assistance and grant funding to enhance digital security.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drinking Water Cybersecurity

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in committee · United States · Senate Aug 5, 2026

S 5171: Children's Artificial Intelligence Toy Safety Act of 2026

The Children's Artificial Intelligence Toy Safety Act of 2026 directs the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to conduct a comprehensive study on the safety, educational impact, and marketing ethics of AI-enabled toys for children under 14. This study will specifically examine risks of physical and psychological harm, the effectiveness of parental controls, and whether a temporary sales ban is necessary. Following the study, the Federal Trade Commission and the Consumer Product Safety Commission must create a joint action plan within two years that includes recommendations for new regulations, disclosure requirements, and public education initiatives. The bill defines AI-enabled toys as products capable of two-way interaction and applies these rules to developers and manufacturers of such items.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill mandates safety studies and potential regulations for AI toys to protect children from harm, aligning with consumer protection and digital safety indicators.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence

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in committee · United States · House Aug 4, 2026

HR 10040: No TSA Data for ICE Act

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.

Topics ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationBill restricts federal immigration enforcement access to TSA data, limiting cooperation and protecting immigrant privacy.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill protects passenger data privacy by prohibiting TSA from sharing data with immigration agencies, aligning with digital rights and privacy indicators.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Border Security Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

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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 ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill authorizes federal grants to purchase advanced technologies like sensors and simulation systems to enhance airport safety.85% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill establishes a task force for driver training and authorizes federal grants to fund advanced safety technologies for airport ground vehicles, directly enhancing transportation safety.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Airports

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in committee · United States · Senate Jul 15, 2026

S 5007: SEARCH Act of 2026

The SEARCH Act of 2026 targets large search engine and AI companies with over 40% of U.S. users to prevent them from favoring their own services or blocking competitors. It prohibits these platforms from paying for exclusive deals, forcing publishers to use their ads, or bundling their search tools with devices and browsers. The law also requires major platforms to share their search data and ad information with qualified competitors at low cost and to offer users a neutral choice screen to select default search engines. Additionally, the bill mandates that advertisers receive detailed reports on their campaigns and that platforms license their search results to rivals without restrictions. The Federal Trade Commission will enforce these rules, with penalties reaching up to 15% of a company's annual revenue for violations.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill regulates dominant tech firms to prevent anti-competitive practices, protecting consumer choice and digital market equity.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence

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in committee · United States · House Jun 25, 2026

HR 9372: Data Infrastructure Energy Measurement and Standards Act

The Data Infrastructure Energy Measurement and Standards Act directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology to develop better methods for measuring energy and water use in data centers, including those running artificial intelligence models. This research program aims to create standardized definitions and reporting guidelines that account for different power systems, cooling setups, and varying workload demands. The bill also requires the agency to coordinate with industry experts and international partners to establish global standards while sharing data to improve future energy demand forecasts. To support these efforts, the legislation authorizes $10 million in funding for each of the fiscal years 2027 through 2029.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill promotes energy efficiency by establishing standards for data center energy measurement, aiding in reducing waste and optimizing power use.85% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill mandates better measurement of energy and water use in data centers, promoting efficiency and conservation of natural resources.75% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill establishes energy measurement standards for data centers and AI, promoting sustainable and efficient technology infrastructure.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence

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in committee · United States · Senate Jun 10, 2026

S 4746: American Innovation and Choice Online Act

The American Innovation and Choice Online Act targets large online platforms that dominate the U.S. market by prohibiting them from unfairly favoring their own products, restricting competitors' access to platform features, or using competitor data to compete against them. Specifically, the bill defines "systemically important platforms" as those with over $175 billion in annual revenue and at least 34 percent of U.S. users or households, placing them under strict rules against practices like tying services, manipulating search rankings, or forcing users to stay on the platform. The Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice are authorized to enforce these rules through civil penalties and injunctions, with a requirement that legal cases against these major platforms be resolved within one year. Additionally, the law includes specific exemptions to protect national security interests and intellectual property rights, ensuring that platforms are not required to share trade secrets or assist foreign adversaries.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill regulates dominant platforms to prevent unfair practices, protecting competition and consumer choice in the digital marketplace.85% confidence

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in committee · United States · House Jun 25, 2026

HR 9334: Workforce for AI Trust Act

The Workforce for AI Trust Act directs the National Science Foundation and the National Institute of Standards and Technology to expand the American workforce capable of developing and governing artificial intelligence. It establishes new fellowship programs to train graduate and postdoctoral researchers from diverse fields, including the humanities and social sciences, to focus on the trustworthy design and evaluation of AI systems. Additionally, the bill requires NIST to create a standardized framework that defines the skills and roles needed for AI work, aiming to help industries and government agencies better identify and fill talent gaps. These provisions also mandate that peer review panels for AI research include experts from multiple disciplines to ensure broad perspectives are considered during the evaluation process.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes fellowship programs to train graduate and postdoctoral researchers in AI, directly expanding educational opportunities and workforce development.75% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill funds workforce development and establishes fellowship programs to advance AI trust and governance.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence

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in committee · United States · House Jun 11, 2026

HR 9306: Hands Off Elections Act of 2026

The Hands Off Elections Act of 2026 prohibits federal employees from participating in or directing others to participate in the administration of federal elections, unless they are already authorized by existing laws such as the Help America Vote Act. This restriction applies to all executive agencies except the United States Postal Service, but it explicitly allows federal workers to assist with cybersecurity measures to protect voting systems. If a state law enforcement officer believes a federal employee has violated these rules, they can file a lawsuit in federal court to stop the behavior. The bill aims to separate federal agency staff from election management duties while preserving their ability to safeguard election technology.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill explicitly allows federal workers to assist with cybersecurity measures to protect voting systems, directly enhancing cybersecurity for elections.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Cybersecurity Tags Elections

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