The Memory Chip Competitiveness Assessment Act of 2026 directs the Secretary of Commerce to conduct a comprehensive study on the market for advanced memory technology, including demand, supply constraints, and impacts on consumer costs. The study must examine capital investment cycles, supply chain dependencies on non-U.S. suppliers, and legal or regulatory barriers that limit domestic supply. The Secretary is required to consult with federal agencies and industry stakeholders, such as manufacturers and major customers, before publishing the findings. A final report must be submitted to congressional committees and made public within 270 days of enactment, following a period for public comment.
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 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.
This bill creates a legal exemption from antitrust laws for companies and organizations that share information or coordinate actions to protect against security risks posed by artificial intelligence. Specifically, it allows these entities to exchange data or agree to temporarily delay the release or deployment of AI systems if they believe such steps are necessary to prevent threats like weaponization, attacks on critical infrastructure, or unauthorized access. To qualify for this protection, the organizations must act in good faith, use the shared information solely for security purposes, and submit a written notice to the Department of Justice before implementing any coordinated delays. The law also ensures that details submitted to the government remain confidential and allows the Attorney General to seek court orders against companies that fail to prove their actions were legitimate security measures.
The Conversational AI Services Act establishes new safety and transparency rules specifically for companies offering chatbot services to users under 18. It requires operators to clearly inform minors that they are interacting with artificial intelligence and prohibits the use of unpredictable rewards to encourage excessive engagement. The bill also mandates that these services cannot generate sexually explicit content, falsely claim to be human or sentient, or simulate romantic relationships with minors, while also requiring tools for parents to manage screen time. Additionally, the law compels chatbots to provide crisis resources when users discuss self-harm and forbids them from pretending to offer professional mental health advice. The Federal Trade Commission is designated to enforce these provisions, with the rules taking effect one year after the bill is enacted.
The FARM AI Act of 2026 directs the U.S. Department of Agriculture to prioritize artificial intelligence in its research, extension programs, and workforce training initiatives. This legislation requires the department to update its funding categories to include AI projects that enhance precision farming, resource management, and cybersecurity while adding specific training for implementing computing systems and maintaining agricultural machinery. To oversee these efforts, the bill establishes a new position called the Artificial Intelligence Agriculture Advisor, who will coordinate with the National Institute of Standards and Technology to develop national standards and promote the adoption of digital tools among farmers and rural communities.
This bill directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology to create standards and guidelines for managing risks associated with artificial intelligence systems used by federal agencies and their contractors, while explicitly excluding national security systems. The legislation requires the development of rules for authenticating, tracking, and labeling synthetic content generated by AI, as well as establishing testing and evaluation procedures for future AI acquisitions. Additionally, the bill mandates that the NIST Director provide training recommendations, performance indicators, and periodic assessments to ensure these standards are effectively implemented across the government.
The American Innovation and Choice Online Act targets large online platforms that dominate the U.S. market by prohibiting them from unfairly favoring their own products, restricting competitors' access to platform features, or using competitor data to compete against them. Specifically, the bill defines "systemically important platforms" as those with over $175 billion in annual revenue and at least 34 percent of U.S. users or households, placing them under strict rules against practices like tying services, manipulating search rankings, or forcing users to stay on the platform. The Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice are authorized to enforce these rules through civil penalties and injunctions, with a requirement that legal cases against these major platforms be resolved within one year. Additionally, the law includes specific exemptions to protect national security interests and intellectual property rights, ensuring that platforms are not required to share trade secrets or assist foreign adversaries.
The Ending Double Dealing Act of 2026 prohibits the Department of Defense from contracting with consultancies that currently work for foreign adversaries or have done so within the last five years. This rule directly affects companies providing mission support services to the military, requiring them to disclose any existing or recent financial ties to designated hostile nations and entities. To comply, firms must certify that they are not receiving funds from or working with these adversarial groups, and failure to disclose such relationships can result in contract termination and a five-year ban on future government work. The law also mandates that the Defense Secretary issue specific policies and update acquisition regulations within the first year to enforce these new restrictions.
The American Reserve Modernization Act of 2026 directs the U.S. Treasury to create two new accounts: a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve for Bitcoin acquired through government forfeiture and a Digital Asset Stockpile for other digital assets. The bill mandates that all Bitcoin held in the reserve be kept for at least 20 years, with strict rules against selling or disposing of these assets during that time. It also establishes a transparency system requiring quarterly public reports and third-party audits to verify the government's holdings and management of these digital assets.
