Technology

HR 8278, the "Fostering the Use of Technology to Uphold Regulatory Effectiveness in Supervision Act," requires several federal financial regulatory agencies to assess their technological capabilities and procurement practices. These agencies, including the Federal Reserve, FDIC, and CFPB, must evaluate how their current technology impacts their ability to supervise financial institutions in real-time and identify opportunities to streamline how they acquire new systems. The bill mandates that these agencies then jointly submit a report to Congress every five years. This report will detail their technology use, procurement processes, workforce capabilities, and plans for future tech upgrades to enhance financial system oversight.

HR 2978, the GUARD Act, allows state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to use existing federal grant funds for investigating elder financial fraud, "pig butchering" investment scams, and general financial fraud. The bill directs these funds toward hiring specialized staff, training on blockchain tools and transnational fraud, purchasing investigative software, improving data collection, and creating financial sector liaisons to coordinate with banks. It requires annual reports from law enforcement on fund usage and outcomes, and mandates federal agencies to submit comprehensive reports to Congress on scam statistics, enforcement actions, and funding allocation. The legislation directly affects law enforcement agencies and aims to strengthen efforts against fraud targeting vulnerable populations, particularly elderly individuals.

The KIDS Act (HR 7757) requires online platforms to implement age verification measures and safety features to protect minors from harmful content and interactions. It mandates platforms to provide parental control tools, limit design features that encourage compulsive use, and prevent access to illegal products like drugs or alcohol. The bill also requires platforms to establish reporting mechanisms for harms to minors and disclose when chatbots are artificial intelligence systems. The law applies to social media platforms, video games, and chatbot providers that meet the definition of a "covered platform" under the bill.

HR 915, the Small Business Technological Act of 2025, expands the use of Small Business Administration (SBA) Section 7(a) loans to cover business software, cloud computing services, and AI-powered tools that handle payroll, HR, sales, billing, accounting, and inventory management. It directly affects small businesses seeking loans for operational technology upgrades, allowing them to use SBA funds for these specific tech services without changing existing loan purposes. The bill amends the Small Business Act to explicitly permit these uses under Section 7(a), clarifying that existing loans for similar purposes before the law's enactment remain valid. It does not expand loan use for research, development, or working capital beyond current definitions.

The Secure America Act appropriates billions of dollars to U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement for fiscal year 2026 to expand staffing and operations. These funds are specifically designated for hiring agents to conduct functions other than immigration enforcement and customs duties, as well as for purchasing new technology to combat drug trafficking and improve border surveillance. The legislation includes restrictions that prohibit using the money to recruit processing coordinators after October 2028 and bans the deployment of untested autonomous surveillance towers. A portion of the funding is also set aside to hire investigators and analysts dedicated to identifying and rescuing victims of child sexual exploitation.

HR 1681 creates an interagency strike force to speed up reviews of broadband infrastructure permits on federal lands. The strike force, made up of officials from Commerce, Agriculture, and Interior departments, will set goals and monitor agencies like the Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service to prioritize these reviews. It directly affects telecom companies seeking permits to install equipment and federal land agencies managing public lands and National Forest System areas. The bill aims to reduce delays in broadband deployment by making the approval process more efficient, without changing land use rules.