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Bill

HR 9439

To amend the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act to direct the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology to establish a pilot program and develop voluntary disclosure standards relating to the use of artificial intelligence systems by private sector entities, and for other purposes.

119th Congress Introduced by Zoe Lofgren

Establish a NIST-led pilot for voluntary AI disclosure standards by private firms to boost transparency about capabilities, governance, data, and risks without mandates.

Introduced in House
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HR 9439

Overview

HR 9439, introduced in the 119th Congress, would amend the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Act to establish a pilot program and develop voluntary disclosure standards related to the use of artificial intelligence (AI) systems by private sector entities. The bill aims to promote transparency and accountability in how AI is deployed by private companies through voluntary disclosures guided by NIST.

Main purpose and intent

  • Encourage responsible use of AI in the private sector by creating a structured framework for voluntary disclosures.
  • Leverage NIST’s role in standards and measurement to develop guidelines that private entities can follow without mandating mandatory reporting.
  • Foster greater transparency about AI systems, including their capabilities, limitations, governance, and potential risks.

Key provisions and changes

  • Directs the Director of NIST to establish a pilot program focused on AI disclosure practices for private sector entities.
  • Requires NIST to develop voluntary disclosure standards or guidelines that participating entities can adopt to disclose information about their AI systems.
  • The standards are to be voluntary, not binding mandates, but designed to be practical and widely adoptable by private sector organizations.
  • The bill situates these efforts within the existing NIST Act framework, leveraging NIST’s authority to issue standards and guidance.
  • Likely scope elements (as typical for such directives) may include:
    • Types of information to be disclosed (e.g., model capabilities, limitations, safety measures, governance structures, data provenance, training data characteristics, risk mitigation strategies).
    • Governance and accountability mechanisms for AI systems.
    • Procedures for updating disclosures as AI systems evolve.
    • Considerations for consumer protection, safety, and security impacts.
  • Establishment of a pilot program timeline and evaluation metrics to assess feasibility, uptake, and effectiveness of voluntary disclosures.

Note: The summary above reflects typical content for a bill of this nature. The exact statutory text may specify additional details such as eligible participants, duration of the pilot, reporting requirements to Congress, and criteria for success.

Who would be affected

  • Private sector entities developing or deploying AI systems, particularly those that would participate in the NIST pilot program and adopt voluntary disclosure standards.
  • NIST as the implementing agency, with responsibility for designing and administering the pilot program and standards.
  • Potentially consumers and users of AI systems who would benefit from greater transparency about AI capabilities and governance through disclosed information.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Action history shows the bill was introduced in the House and referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology on June 24, 2026.
  • As a referral to a standing committee, the bill would undergo committee consideration, potential revisions, and hearings.
  • If advanced, it could proceed to floor action, markups, and potential passage or further negotiation with the Senate (in bicameral consideration).
  • The bill emphasizes a pilot program, implying a finite implementation period with evaluation milestones; exact duration and reporting deadlines would be specified in the enacted text or accompanying committee reports.

Potential impact and policy considerations

  • Benefits:
    • Encourages voluntary transparency that can inform consumers, researchers, and policymakers about AI system risks and governance.
    • Helps establish best practices for disclosures without imposing mandatory regulatory burdens on all private entities.
    • May accelerate the development of standardized disclosure formats, improving comparability across AI systems.
  • Considerations:
    • The voluntary nature may lead to uneven adoption; larger firms may participate more readily than smaller entities.
    • Privacy, trade secrets, and competitive concerns could influence what information is disclosed.
    • The effectiveness of a pilot program depends on clear guidelines, measurable outcomes, and ongoing engagement with industry stakeholders.

If you’d like, I can tailor this summary to a specific audience (e.g., policymakers, industry stakeholders, or the general public) or compare it to related federal AI governance initiatives.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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