# 119-s-5417: AI Emergency Button Act

119-s-5417, AI Emergency Button Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Kennedy, John [R-LA] (R-LA); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-07).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5417
- As of: 2026-10-07
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-5417
- Congress: 119
- Title: AI Emergency Button Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-09-16
- Sponsor: Sen. Kennedy, John [R-LA] (R-LA)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-10-07

## Summary

**Mandatory human-operated shutdowns for advanced AI systems** would require every such system developed or operated in the United States to include a technical capability that allows a human operator to shut it down. The bill would direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to issue regulations within 90 days, working with other federal agencies, to implement that requirement. - Companies that develop or operate advanced AI systems in the U.S. would have to build a human shutdown mechanism into those systems. It refers to the National Artificial Intelligence Initiative Act (section 5002) for the definition of AI. - Human operators would gain a direct, technical control to deactivate advanced AI systems, creating an explicit human-in-the-loop shutdown option. - The Department of Homeland Security would write implementing regulations within 90 days in consultation with other agencies, and those regulations would set the exact scope, enforcement, and any penalties.

## Provisions PRIA read

- New human shutdown rule for AI: benefit, high. If enacted, this bill would require covered entities to give advanced AI systems a technical way for a human to shut them down. It would define "artificial intelligence" by referring to 15 U.S.C. 9401 and define a "covered entity" as any entity that develops or operates such a system in the United…

## Related bills

- 119-s-688: Fighting Foreign Illegal Seafood Harvests Act of 2025
- 119-s-4952: Protecting American Taxpayers Act
- 119-s-4378: Protecting American Taxpayers Act
- 119-s-1748: Kids Online Safety Act
- 119-s-4065: STAND with Taiwan Act of 2026
- 119-s-3492: Essential Caregivers Act of 2025

## Sources
- [119-s-5417 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/5417)

## Related
- [119-s-688: Fighting Foreign Illegal Seafood Harvests Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-688)
- [119-s-4952: Protecting American Taxpayers Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4952)
- [119-s-4378: Protecting American Taxpayers Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4378)
- [119-s-1748: Kids Online Safety Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1748)
- [119-s-4065: STAND with Taiwan Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4065)
- [119-s-3492: Essential Caregivers Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3492)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5417 (as of 2026-10-07).