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HR10538119th CongressWALLET

Ban Artificial Superintelligence Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Representative Casar, Greg [D-TX-35]

Introduced

Summary

A nationwide pause on advanced AI and a ban on artificial superintelligence (ASI). The bill creates a Department of Artificial Intelligence to enforce that pause, set strict inspection and approval rules, and penalize violations.

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  • Developers and companies: Must obtain Department charters, grant full access for inspections and audits, and risk charter revocation plus forfeiture of intellectual property and assets for violations.
  • Researchers and labs: Face a pause on advanced AI work until the Department is staffed and rules are issued. Systems showing dangerous precursor traits must be reported within 24 hours and rendered inoperative if not cleared within 30 days.
  • Workers and whistleblowers: Policymaking individuals and rogue actors can face criminal penalties up to 20 years in prison. Other workers who recklessly violate rules can be banned from the AI industry for 10 years, and whistleblowers get anti‑retaliation protections and a possible waiver of the ban.
  • Federal programs and international policy: Federal funds may not support banned activities but a narrow exception allows funding defensive cybersecurity research using certain risky AI. The Secretary must pursue international agreements and potential export controls.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.

New Department to Regulate AI

If enacted, the bill would create an executive Department of Artificial Intelligence led by a President-appointed, Senate-confirmed Secretary. The Secretary would run the Department and enforce the law. The bill would set up an independent Artificial Intelligence Advisory Board to give scientific and technical advice. Department staff would face conflict-of-interest and post-employment limits to reduce improper influence.

Penalties, job bans, and whistleblower protections

If enacted, people who recklessly violate key prohibitions could face fines and up to 20 years in prison. Non-policymaking individuals who recklessly break the rules could be barred from AI industry jobs for 10 years, though they may ask the Secretary to review the ban. Covered employees, contractors, and former workers would be protected from employer retaliation for reporting violations or assisting investigations. The Secretary could waive employment bans for whistleblowers who provided information consistent with the Department's mission.

Nationwide pause and AI charters

If enacted, the bill would define "advanced AI" as systems trained with at least 10^25 operations and require the Secretary to update that threshold each year. It would impose an immediate nationwide pause on training, modifying, or deploying advanced AI until the Department is staffed and rules are set. Developers would need a Secretary-issued charter to build or distribute advanced models, give full access for inspections, and get final pre-deployment approval. The bill would ban creating, owning, funding, importing, or transferring artificial superintelligence or systems that show listed precursor traits, and the Secretary could sequester, verify fixes within 30 days, or order shutdowns.

Federal funding limits and export rules

If enacted, the bill would bar use of Federal funds for activities that violate the Act's prohibitions. One narrow exception would let the Department fund defensive cybersecurity research that uses AI capable of accessing secured infrastructure without authorization. The Secretary would also work with the Secretary of State and allies to seek international agreements and could pursue export controls on AI computing infrastructure.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Casar, Greg [D-TX-35]

TX • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Khanna, Ro [D-CA-17]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 9/24/2026

  • Rep. Mejia, Analilia [D-NJ-11]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 9/24/2026

  • Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3]

    AZ • D

    Sponsored 9/24/2026

  • Rep. Hoyle, Val T. [D-OR-4]

    OR • D

    Sponsored 9/24/2026

  • Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 9/24/2026

  • Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 9/24/2026

  • Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17]

    PA • D

    Sponsored 9/24/2026

  • Rep. Grijalva, Adelita S. [D-AZ-7]

    AZ • D

    Sponsored 9/24/2026

  • Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 9/24/2026

  • Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, Alexandria [D-NY-14]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 9/28/2026

  • Rep. Randall, Emily [D-WA-6]

    WA • D

    Sponsored 10/1/2026

  • Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 10/13/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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