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119-s-4154119th CongressWALLET

Research and Oversight of AI in Courts Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Senator Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS]

Introduced

Summary

Independent Task Force to study AI speech-to-text in U.S. courts. This bill would create a 15-member AI Research and Oversight in Courts Task Force to evaluate accuracy, privacy, and civil liberty risks from using AI transcription and to recommend legal and policy fixes.

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  • Litigants and people with speech differences would get a formal review of whether AI tools change transcript accuracy or alter how speech is recorded.
  • State and Federal courts would receive guidance on vendor selection, whether to include watermarking or metadata, and how to guard against cybersecurity and data‑integrity risks.
  • Courts and litigants would see an analysis of cost effects and potential disruptions to proceedings to inform budgeting and operations.
  • The Task Force must exclude non‑federal members tied to AI vendors, issue a status report every 4 months, and deliver a final report within 18 months with forward‑looking policy recommendations.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Temporary AI task force for courts

This bill would require the Attorney General, through the National Institute of Justice, to create an "AI Research and Oversight in Courts Task Force" within 60 days of enactment. The Task Force would have 15 members (4 Federal employees and 11 non‑Federal members) and two co-chairs, and non‑Federal members could not work for or represent AI vendors. Members would serve without extra pay, but non‑Federal members would be reimbursed for travel and per diem. The Task Force would send status reports every 4 months and deliver a final report within 18 months of establishment on accuracy, effects on people with speech differences or accents, costs for litigants, cybersecurity and data integrity, watermarking and metadata, vendor guidance, and recommended judicial, legislative, or regulatory reforms. The Task Force and this Act would end when the final report is submitted.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS]

MS • R

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT]

    VT • D

    Sponsored 3/19/2026

  • Sen. Hyde-Smith, Cindy [R-MS]

    MS • R

    Sponsored 3/26/2026

  • Sen. Warnock, Raphael G. [D-GA]

    GA • D

    Sponsored 9/14/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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