Built by Kaizen, not a live government website
Congress.gov
Settings2

Senate bill · 119th Congress

S. 1877: Federal Automated Systems Accountability Act of 2026

Would require federal agencies to test and publicly document computer systems that make decisions about people, such as benefits eligibility.

Introduced June 3, 2025 by Sen. Peter Fontaine [R-VT] · 9 cosponsors · Science, Technology, Communications

  1. Introduced

    A member formally files the measure.

  2. In committee

    A committee studies it and can change it.

  3. Passed one chamber

    The originating chamber votes yes.

  4. Passed both chambers (current)

    The other chamber passes the same text.

  5. To the President

    Signed, vetoed, or left to become law.

Both chambers have passed this measure. The final text still has to be sent to the President.

Plain language explanation

AI generated, reviewed by a human editor

S. 1877 would require every federal agency to publish an inventory of automated systems that make decisions about individuals. Agencies would have to complete and publish accuracy and disparity testing before deployment, with a national security exception added by the House. The Senate passed the bill by unanimous consent on February 5, 2026, and the House passed a changed version on July 14, 2026.

Not established in the record:

  • Whether the Senate will accept the House changes.

What this measure does

Agencies would have to list the computer systems they use to decide things about people, test those systems before turning them on, and let a person ask a human to look again at a decision.

Engrossed Amendment House · July 14, 2026

Cost estimate

Ten-year net effect of $310 million in spending. CBO estimates implementing the bill would cost 310,000,000 dollars over the 2026 to 2031 period, mostly for agency testing staff.

Subjects

Cybersecurity, Privacy, Government information, Administrative law, Federal employees, Grants

See all subjects

What this means where you live

Congress.gov holds the text, actions and votes for S. 1877. District level effects and your representative's position are held by HouseConnect.

Reading a measure

Start with the plain-language summary and the status tracker. Every statement links back to the official action or bill text it came from, so you can check anything you read.

Glossary of legislative terms