GUARDRAILS Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8031
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Science, Technology, Communications
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-03-20: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-09T17:55:31Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The GUARDRAILS Act (H.R. 8031) aims to repeal a specific Executive Order (EO) titled "Ensuring a National Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence", issued on December 11, 2025. Its short title emphasizes "Guaranteeing and Upholding Americans' Right to Decide Responsible AI Laws and Standards", suggesting a focus on shifting AI policy authority away from executive action.
Key Provisions
- Repeal of EO: The EO is declared to have no force or effect.
- Funding Prohibition: No federal funds may be used to implement, administer, enforce, or carry out the EO.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Completely nullifies the specified EO, overriding its directives on national AI policy.
- Prevents any ongoing or future executive-led AI framework from using federal resources, effectively stopping it in its tracks.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Agencies involved in AI policy (e.g., those under the executive branch) lose authority and funding to execute the EO, potentially halting related programs or initiatives.
- Citizens and States: Shifts decision-making on AI laws and standards toward Congress or state governments, allowing localized or legislative approaches rather than a uniform national executive framework.
- No Direct International Impact: Focuses on domestic policy; no provisions address foreign relations.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Executive Branch: Agencies tasked with AI oversight (e.g., potentially Commerce, Defense, or others referenced in the EO).
- Congress: Gains authority to redefine AI policy through legislation.
- States and Local Governments: Could benefit from reduced federal overreach, enabling state-specific AI regulations.
- AI Industry and Developers: Faces uncertainty in national standards, possibly leading to varied state rules.
- U.S. Citizens: Indirectly affected through changes in AI governance, privacy, or innovation policies previously set by the EO.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Separation of Powers: Asserts Congress's legislative supremacy over executive actions via repeal and funding control (impoundment prohibition), reinforcing checks and balances.
- Federalism: Promotes states' rights in AI regulation by dismantling a centralized executive framework.
- Political Context: Bipartisan sponsorship (over 30 representatives from both parties) indicates broad support for curbing executive AI policy, though referral to Energy & Commerce and Judiciary committees signals potential debate on tech oversight. No constitutional challenges noted in the bill text.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8]
Cosponsors (35)
Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36], Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-7], Rep. Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-51], Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6], Rep. Auchincloss, Jake [D-MA-4], Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large], Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44], Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1], Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6], Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28], Rep. Cisneros, Gilbert Ray [D-CA-31], Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2], Rep. Dexter, Maxine [D-OR-3], Rep. Fletcher, Lizzie [D-TX-7], Rep. Foster, Bill [D-IL-11], Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4], Rep. Friedman, Laura [D-CA-30], Rep. Khanna, Ro [D-CA-17], Rep. Larsen, Rick [D-WA-2], Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large], Rep. McCollum, Betty [D-MN-4], Rep. McGarvey, Morgan [D-KY-3], Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2], Rep. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ-8], Rep. Morrison, Kelly [D-MN-3], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5], Rep. Rivas, Luz M. [D-CA-29], Rep. Scholten, Hillary J. [D-MI-3], Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20], Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12], Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1], Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5]
Recent Actions
- 2026-03-20: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-03-20: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-03-20: Introduced in House
- 2026-03-20: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Guaranteeing and Upholding Americans’ Right to Decide Responsible AI Laws and Standards Act — issued 2026-03-20 — PDF (2 pages)