Technology

in committee · United States · Senate Mar 9, 2026

S 4030: Supporting After-School STEM Educators Act

This bill establishes a grant program to provide professional development scholarships for educators working in after-school, summer, and other out-of-school time programs, with a focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics subjects. The Department of Labor would award grants to intermediary organizations, which would then distribute funds to program providers to help pay for educator training, coaching, and related costs. The program prioritizes serving communities with historically underinvested STEM resources and aims to support educators in gaining STEM credentials and improving their wages. Intermediaries receiving grants must also create centralized databases of training opportunities and facilitate peer networks for educators. The funding is authorized for five-year periods, with requirements for regular reporting on program effectiveness and educator retention.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes grant program for STEM professional development scholarships for out-of-school educators, directly supporting teacher training and educational access.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill provides funding for STEM professional development, directly advancing technology education and workforce preparation in out-of-school programs.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education Teachers

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in committee · United States · Senate Feb 26, 2026

S 3931: TAS Act

This bill, titled the Taxpayer Assistance and Service Act, aims to improve services provided to taxpayers by the Internal Revenue Service through a series of administrative and procedural changes. The legislation directly affects taxpayers, tax return preparers, and IRS employees by expanding electronic access to tax information, requiring the IRS to provide real-time dashboards showing wait times and backlogs, and streamlining processes for offers-in-compromise and installment agreements. Key provisions include digitizing paper tax returns, eliminating fees for low-income taxpayers seeking payment plans, increasing penalties for tax return preparers who misappropriate refunds or fail to provide valid identification numbers, and clarifying the authority of the Tax Court to issue refunds and hear certain refund suits. The bill also strengthens protections for whistleblowers, extends tax deadlines for individuals detained abroad, and enhances the independence and authority of the Office of the Taxpayer Advocate.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill expands electronic access to tax information and requires real-time dashboards, indicating support for digital services and technology integration in government.65% confidence

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in committee · United States · Senate Mar 19, 2026

S 4154: Research and Oversight of AI in Courts Act of 2026

This bill establishes the AI Research and Oversight in Courts Task Force to study how artificial intelligence speech-to-text and automatic speech recognition technologies are used in federal and state courts across the United States. The 15-member task force, composed of government officials and independent experts, will assess issues related to accuracy, privacy, civil liberties, and costs associated with these technologies in the judicial system. Within 18 months of enactment, the group must submit a final report to Congress with findings and recommendations on whether these technologies affect court record integrity, alter speech from individuals with accents or speech impediments, and pose cybersecurity risks. The task force will also examine whether court records should include watermarks or metadata to indicate AI involvement and provide guidance on vendor selection for these technologies.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill creates oversight task force to study AI accuracy, privacy, and civil liberties in courts, enhancing judicial integrity and protecting defendant rights.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill establishes task force to study AI speech-to-text in courts, assessing accuracy, privacy, and civil liberties to ensure responsible technology use in judicial system85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Judges Artificial Intelligence Cybersecurity

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in committee · United States · House Mar 16, 2026

HR 7936: Bioindustrial Scale-Up for Supply Chains and Energy Resiliency Act of 2026

This bill establishes a federal program to create at least two bioindustrial technology maturation facilities by 2030, which will serve as shared research and testing centers for developing biotechnology products that enhance energy security. These facilities will provide precommercial-scale testing, pilot production, and workforce training for companies and researchers working with biological systems to manufacture materials and products, with locations chosen to support diverse regional needs and supply chains. The legislation defines key terms related to biomanufacturing and waste streams, mandates collaboration with industry and academic partners, and authorizes $225.5 million in funding from 2026 through 2030 to support these efforts.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill establishes federal program to create bioindustrial technology facilities for developing biotechnology products that enhance energy security and energy resiliency.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill promotes biotechnology for clean energy and energy resiliency, which aligns with environmental protection and sustainable resource use.75% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill establishes federal funding for biotechnology facilities to advance energy resiliency through technological development and commercial application.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Energy Resilience

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in committee · United States · House Mar 4, 2026

HR 7783: AI-Ready Networks Act

This bill, known as the AI-Ready Networks Act, requires the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information to produce a comprehensive report on how artificial intelligence is being integrated into the United States commercial telecommunications infrastructure. The report must be completed within 18 months of the bill's enactment and will include assessments of international standards, industry use cases, workforce needs, security measures, and recommendations for updating existing telecommunications laws. Before finalizing the report, the Assistant Secretary will publish a draft for public comment and consult with federal agencies, state and local governments, telecommunications companies, and academic organizations to ensure diverse input. The legislation aims to create a clearer understanding of AI's role in telecommunications networks and provide guidance for safe and effective implementation across the industry.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill mandates a comprehensive report on AI integration in telecom infrastructure, assessing security measures and industry use cases to inform policy improvements.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence Broadband Access Telecommunications

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in committee · United States · House Mar 16, 2026

HR 7943: Communications Equity and Diversity Council Act

This bill establishes a new advisory group called the Communications Equity and Diversity Council within the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The Council would consist of 30 to 35 members representing historically underserved individuals, consumers, civil rights organizations, and industry stakeholders, all appointed by the FCC Chair. Its main responsibilities include making recommendations on improving access to communication services, reducing barriers to infrastructure investment, helping small businesses enter the communications industry, and promoting diversity of voices in communications. The Council would meet at least three times per year with public meetings, develop data on industry trends, and receive $450,000 in funding for fiscal year 2027 to carry out its duties.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill establishes council to improve communication access and reduce infrastructure barriers, promoting digital equity and expanding internet access85% confidence

Sub-Topics Telecommunications

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in committee · United States · Senate Mar 19, 2026

S 4145: Pro Codes Act of 2026

This bill, known as the Protecting and Enhancing Public Access to Codes Act of 2026, adds a new section to the U.S. Copyright Code to address standards that are incorporated by reference into federal, state, and local laws and regulations. The legislation requires standards development organizations to make these incorporated standards freely available online at no cost to the public, including searchable tables of contents and indexes, while still protecting the organizations' copyright rights. The bill defines key terms such as "incorporated by reference" and "standards development organization" to clarify which materials fall under these requirements. It also establishes that copyright protection for these standards continues even after they are referenced in laws, provided the organization makes them publicly accessible online within a reasonable time of being notified about the incorporation. The measure aims to balance public access to technical standards used in regulations with the ability of standards organizations to fund their work through licensing and sales.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill promotes digital access by requiring standards organizations to make incorporated technical standards freely available online, enhancing public access to critical technology documentation and supporting transparency in regulatory frameworks.85% confidence

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passed · United States · House Sep 16, 2025

HR 3494: VA Hospital Inventory Management System Authorization Act

HR 3494 authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to purchase or develop a cloud-based inventory management system for medical supplies at VA hospitals. The bill requires a pilot program at one VA facility before full implementation and allocates $50 million in funding for this effort. It mandates that the VA complete the system's implementation across all VA hospitals within three years of the bill's enactment. This legislation directly affects VA medical facilities by changing how they track and manage medical supplies.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates $50M for VA hospital supply system, directly improving healthcare infrastructure efficiency at public healthcare facilities.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill authorizes funding for cloud-based inventory management system at VA hospitals, advancing technology adoption in healthcare infrastructure.85% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransFunds $50M for VA hospital supply system, mandates implementation to improve healthcare operations, directly advancing veterans' medical services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Veteran Healthcare

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in committee · United States · Senate May 13, 2026

SJRES 150: A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection relating to the withdrawal of the rule relating to "Limited Applicability of Consumer Financial Protection Act's 'Time or Space' Exception With Respect to Digital Marketing Providers".

This joint resolution seeks to overturn a Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection rule that would remove protections for digital marketing providers. The bill directly affects companies that market financial products online by restoring previous restrictions on how they can target consumers. If passed, the resolution would nullify the agency's decision to withdraw the "time or space" exception, which previously limited how long and where digital marketers could display certain financial advertisements. The measure uses Congress's legislative veto power to block the regulatory change without requiring new legislation.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill restores consumer protections for digital marketing, limiting how companies target consumers online, which aligns with protecting digital rights and consumer privacy in technology.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Consumer Data Protection

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in committee · United States · Senate Mar 11, 2026

S 4067: Land Grant Research Prioritization Act of 2026

This bill, titled the Land Grant Research Prioritization Act of 2026, amends existing federal agricultural law to establish specific research and extension grant priorities for land-grant universities. It directs funding toward four main areas: advanced mechanized harvesting technologies, particularly for specialty crops; artificial intelligence applications in agriculture to improve specialty crop production; methods for managing and eradicating invasive plant and animal species; and aquaculture techniques for valuable aquatic species. The legislation allows the Secretary of Agriculture to prioritize grants in these areas when awarding funding to land-grant institutions for research and extension projects.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill prioritizes research on invasive species management and aquaculture, which directly supports environmental protection and conservation efforts.75% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill explicitly funds AI applications and advanced mechanized harvesting technologies in agriculture, directly advancing technology adoption and development.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence Tags Agriculture

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