Federal Artificial Intelligence Risk Management Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8819
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Science, Technology, Communications
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-14: Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-08T17:32:02Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the legislation This bill aims to require federal agencies to adopt standards and guidelines based on the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Artificial Intelligence Risk Management Framework when developing, procuring, or using artificial intelligence systems. It excludes national security systems from these requirements.
Key provisions
- Amends the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 by adding a new Section 5304 on standards for artificial intelligence systems.
- Directs the NIST Director, in consultation with the Office of Management and Budget and other agencies, to develop federal standards and guidelines for:
- Artificial intelligence systems used by agencies or their contractors.
- Managing risks related to the trustworthiness of these systems.
- Authenticating, tracking, and labeling synthetic content (such as AI-generated images, videos, or text).
- Requires NIST to align standards with the existing AI Risk Management Framework (NIST AI 100-1), support conformity assessments, recommend training, and create performance measures.
- Mandates a gap analysis study on testing, evaluation, verification, and validation standards for AI acquisitions, followed by the development of related guidelines.
- Provides definitions for key terms, including "agency," "artificial intelligence system," "framework," and "synthetic content."
- Requires periodic reviews and revisions of the standards.
Significant changes to existing law
- Builds on the 2021 NDAA by making the previously voluntary NIST AI Risk Management Framework the basis for mandatory federal standards and guidelines.
- Expands NIST's role to include research, technical assistance, and evaluation of agency implementation.
- Introduces new requirements for synthetic content labeling and AI acquisition testing that did not previously exist in statute.
Potential impacts
- Government agencies would need to update procurement, development, and operational practices to comply with the new standards, potentially increasing administrative costs and requiring staff training.
- Citizens could see improved oversight of federal AI use, reducing risks such as bias or misuse in government services.
- International relations may be indirectly affected if U.S. standards influence global AI norms through alignment with voluntary frameworks.
- Contractors and organizations working with agencies would face new compliance obligations for AI-related work.
Main stakeholders affected
- Federal executive branch agencies and their contractors.
- The National Institute of Standards and Technology and the Office of Management and Budget.
- Congress, through oversight of implementation reports.
- Organizations developing or providing artificial intelligence systems to the government.
Notable legal, constitutional, or political implications
- The legislation strengthens executive branch coordination on technology policy without creating new regulatory authorities outside existing frameworks.
- It raises no apparent constitutional concerns, as it focuses on internal federal standards rather than private sector mandates.
- The bill reflects a bipartisan approach to AI governance, emphasizing risk management over restrictive rules.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (3)
Rep. Nunn, Zachary [R-IA-3], Rep. Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8], Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-14: Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
- 2026-05-14: Introduced in House
- 2026-05-14: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Federal Artificial Intelligence Risk Management Act of 2026 — issued 2026-05-14 — PDF (9 pages)