Tech bills of the week: Transparency in agency AI use; Creating a CISA AI task force; and more
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Although Congress is in recess, lawmakers in the House and Senate still rolled out proposals over the past week looking to promote clarity around the use of — and potential harms posed by — AI tools.
Mandating disclosures of agencies’ AI use in critical decisions
Sens. Gary Peters, D-Mich., and James Lankford, R-Okla., introduced legislation that looks to promote more transparency around the federal government’s use of artificial intelligence systems by requiring agencies to notify individuals when they are “interacting with or subject to critical decisions made using certain AI or other automated systems.”
Agencies reported more than 3,600 uses of AI in 2025 in the most recent federally-mandated inventory. Peters and Lankford said the growing adoption of AI tools, including those that engage with Americans, necessitates greater disclosure.
The senators’ measure would require the Office of Management and Budget to issue guidance to federal agencies outlining transparency practices to follow around uses of AI and other automated systems. These practices would include requiring agencies to notify individuals when important decisions are made using AI and to provide a redress process for those who receive an AI-determined decision.
“Artificial intelligence is a powerful tool to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of our federal government, but we must always keep security, privacy, and any unintended consequences in mind before we turn any process or decision over to a computer,” Lankford said in a statement. “The federal government can and should thoughtfully integrate new technology to help improve customer service for Americans. But agencies should be transparent about when, where, and how we are interacting with AI to ensure continuous oversight and accountability for how these tools impact Americans.”
Standing up an AI task force at CISA
Two Democrats on the House Homeland Security Committee reintroduced legislation that would direct the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to establish a task force on AI to help mitigate national security and safety challenges posed by the emerging capabilities.
The measure was introduced by Reps. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., the panel’s ranking member, and Troy Carter, Sr., D-La. Both lawmakers sponsored similar legislation in May 2024.
The reintroduced proposal would direct CISA to create the task force within one year of the bill’s enactment. The group would help to coordinate efforts to improve the design, adoption and deployment of AI tools, as well as assess safety and advise developers on any potential cybersecurity risks.
“Advancements in AI technology are expanding by the day and we need to make sure our cybersecurity defenses are moving with it,” Thompson said in a statement. “This bill creates a dedicated CISA task force so the agency can better understand the risks that come with AI and make sure we are prepared to protect the systems and infrastructure Americans rely on every day. I am proud to work alongside Representative Carter to reintroduce this critical legislation and help ensure our defenses are ready for what comes next.”
Holding AI developers liable
Rep. Lori Trahan, D-Mass., released a discussion draft on Wednesday of a proposal to clarify when and how individuals harmed by AI agents can seek legal redress.
The draft measure calls for holding AI developers liable if one of their systems “injures a third party through conduct that would constitute negligence, an intentional tort, or a crime if committed by a person.” It would also establish a federal cause of action but would not preempt any state laws.
“When someone breaks the law and hurts you, you can take them to court. That shouldn't change just because the wrongdoer is an AI agent,” Trahan said in a statement. “Developers have already built systems capable of acting on their own and causing real damage. The CLAIM Act makes sure they answer for what their systems do.”
Trahan previously introduced legislation with Rep. Jay Obernolte, R-Calif., known as the FRONTIER Act, that looks to establish guardrails around the development of AI, including by creating independent verification and incident reporting requirements. Trahan said in a press release that her draft bill seeks to complement that proposal.
Sens. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., and Chris Murphy, D-Conn., introduced a separate measure in the upper chamber that seeks to hold AI agent operators and developers criminally and civilly liable for hacking incidents.