This bill prohibits federal agencies from purchasing or using artificial intelligence models that fail to meet specific safety standards designed to prevent the creation of child sexual abuse material and non-consensual intimate images of adults. It requires the National Institute of Standards and Technology to establish performance benchmarks and a testing program within 180 days of enactment, while also mandating that agencies remove non-compliant software from their systems. The legislation includes a "cure" option allowing vendors to fix identified flaws at their own expense to avoid removal, and it bans the sale of tools specifically designed to bypass these safety controls. Additionally, the bill creates a private right of action, enabling individuals whose images are used to generate illegal content to sue developers for damages or injunctive relief.
The National Quantum Readiness Act of 2026 directs federal agencies to advance quantum technology development and secure domestic supply chains. It requires the Department of Defense to select three next-generation quantum sensor projects for deployment by 2028. Additionally, multiple agencies must create a plan to partner with the private sector on developing quantum components and address market barriers. The bill also mandates steps to improve access to domestic foundry resources and strengthen the supply chain for quantum information science.
The Expanding AI Voices Act directs the National Science Foundation to issue competitive grants aimed at broadening participation in artificial intelligence research, education, and workforce development. These funds are specifically targeted at institutions that are not among the top 100 in federal research spending, as well as minority-serving institutions and Tribal colleges, to help them build capacity and partnerships. Grant recipients may use the money to expand AI research programs, recruit faculty, create bridge programs for students, provide access to computing resources, and host workshops that promote safe and secure AI practices. The legislation also requires the NSF to consider geographic diversity and resource constraints when selecting applicants to ensure broad national participation.
The Advancing International and Foreign Language Education Act amends the Higher Education Act to support research, innovation, and professional training in global education. It allows universities, libraries, and nonprofits to receive competitive grants for studying the capacity and demand for foreign language programs, as well as for developing new teaching methods and digital resources. The bill also expands funding for global business and professional education to help students gain international skills in fields like science, engineering, and law, while creating a national database to track education trends. Additionally, the legislation updates definitions to include community colleges and heritage students, and repeals certain existing programs to streamline requirements.
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.
The Secure A.I. Development Act of 2026 establishes a new Artificial Intelligence Risk Board within the National Institute of Standards and Technology to evaluate high-risk AI models and develop security best practices for developers. Under the bill, companies releasing powerful AI models must grant the National Security Agency access to their systems before public release and register those models in a new public database. The legislation also creates a voluntary incident reporting system to track AI safety and security issues, updates national vulnerability databases to handle AI-specific threats, and launches a pilot program to share classified threat intelligence with private sector companies that work on federal AI projects.
The ACCESS Rural America Act exempts small rural telephone companies from specific federal registration requirements for selling securities. To qualify for this exemption, the companies must provide broadband internet access and submit a financial summary to investors that includes subscriber data and key financial statements. The bill applies only to issuers with fewer than 100,000 broadband subscribers and securities held by more than 500 non-accredited investors but fewer than 2,000 total holders. This change aims to simplify the process for these rural providers to raise capital by reducing regulatory burdens.
The Data Center Tax Accountability and Disclosure Act of 2026 modifies tax rules and establishes reporting requirements for large data centers. It removes a tax incentive known as bonus depreciation for artificial intelligence data centers unless they meet specific green building standards, such as LEED Platinum or Gold certification. Additionally, the bill requires operators of data centers consuming at least 25 megawatts of power to submit detailed annual reports on their water and electricity usage, emissions, and backup power systems to state or federal agencies. These reports must be made public, and the law prohibits companies from using confidentiality agreements to hide this information. Operators who fail to comply with these reporting requirements face daily civil penalties of up to $100,000 for intentional violations.
The Enhancing K-12 Cybersecurity Act directs the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to create a public website and database that helps schools share security tips, find government-funded tools, and apply for cybersecurity grants. It also establishes a voluntary registry where schools can report cyber incidents to help identify trends and improve national monitoring without revealing private student information. Additionally, the bill funds a program to provide tailored cybersecurity strategies, ransomware protection services, and training specifically designed for the unique resources of elementary and secondary schools. These measures aim to strengthen digital safety for K-12 institutions by improving information exchange, tracking threats, and offering direct technical support.
The POWER ON Act of 2026 extends the funding authorization for the Department of Energy's Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships program. Originally set to expire in 2026, the bill updates the timeline so that this funding will now run through 2031. This legislative change directly affects the Department of Energy and the private sector partners that receive grants to improve the reliability of the electric grid. By reauthorizing these specific provisions, the bill ensures continued financial support for projects aimed at strengthening the nation's power infrastructure without altering the program's existing scope or requirements.
