HBCU AI Research Leadership Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 7826
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Science, Technology, Communications
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-03-05: Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-14T08:08:30Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose This legislation amends the National Artificial Intelligence Initiative Act of 2020 to direct a portion of federal funding for national artificial intelligence research institutes toward historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). The goal is to support HBCU participation in establishing and operating these institutes.
Key provisions
- Requires the head of the relevant agency (originally the Secretary of Energy) to allocate at least 10 percent of financial assistance awards for national AI research institutes to eligible HBCUs or consortia that include them.
- Allows HBCUs to partner with other higher education institutions when applying for these awards.
- Adds a definition of "historically Black college and university" by referencing the term "part B institution" from the Higher Education Act of 1965.
Significant changes to existing law
- Introduces a new mandatory 10 percent set-aside for HBCUs within the existing awards process under section 5201(b) of the 2020 Act, which previously had no such targeted allocation.
- Inserts a formal definition for HBCUs into the Act's definitions section (section 5002), expanding the list of defined terms.
Potential impacts
- On government agencies: Directs the Department of Energy and any involved agencies to adjust their award processes to meet the 10 percent requirement, subject to available funding.
- On citizens: May expand access to AI research funding and opportunities for students, faculty, and researchers at HBCUs.
- On international relations: No direct effects are specified in the bill.
Main stakeholders affected
- Historically Black colleges and universities and their consortia.
- Other institutions of higher education that may partner with HBCUs.
- The Department of Energy and agencies administering national AI research institute awards.
- AI researchers and students seeking funding through these institutes.
Notable legal, constitutional, or political implications
- The bill modifies an existing federal statute to create a targeted funding preference, which could raise questions about compliance with federal grant-making rules but does not alter constitutional authority over education or research funding.
- It focuses on domestic higher education institutions and contains no provisions affecting foreign entities or international agreements.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4]
Cosponsors (2)
Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5], Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2]
Recent Actions
- 2026-03-05: Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
- 2026-03-05: Introduced in House
- 2026-03-05: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- HBCU AI Research Leadership Act — issued 2026-03-05 — PDF (3 pages)