House Bill Would Require Frontier AI Developers to Report Dangerous Activity

A bill introduced Thursday (June 25) in the U.S. House would require developers of frontier artificial intelligence (AI) models to report the models’ dangerous capabilities, security breaches and safety incidents to the Secretary of Commerce.

The AI Incident Reporting Act, introduced by Rep. Nathaniel Moran (R-Texas), would enable the Commerce Department to determine which AI models would be covered these requirements, would require the models’ developers to file reports within seven days of discovering dangerous activity, and would require Commerce to report the most serious incidents to congressional leadership and relevant committee chairs within 48 hours, according to a press release from Moran’s office.

The bill would require the Commerce Department to develop the reporting thresholds in consultation with AI developers and other experts to ensure that the framework reflects technical realities and does not impose unnecessary burdens on the industry, per the release.

“AI is a powerful engine of innovation, and I want to see it flourish, but not without accountability and not without human oversight,” Moran said in the release. “The rule of law should apply to this new frontier. This legislation ensures that when something goes wrong with a high-capability AI system, the U.S. Government has the information needed to act quickly.”

On June 4, two other members of the House released a discussion draft of bipartisan legislation to create a federal framework for governing AI. The discussion draft of the Great American AI Act is meant to encourage feedback from stakeholders, experts and the public before the bill is formally introduced.

The bill would preempt any state or local law or regulation covering the development of AI models for three years; require the comptroller general to submit a report on federal statutes and regulations that affect AI innovation or AI infrastructure; and require transparency in frontier AI, independent verification organization audits and assessments, and anti-retaliation protection for AI whistleblowers.

Moran said in a Thursday report by Reuters that compared to the Great American AI Act, his own bill is more targeted, may become law more quickly and may gain bipartisan support more quickly.

Mark Beall, president of the AI Policy Network, who supports Moran’s bill, told Reuters: “No legislation on AI has had much of a chance, but I think there’s a growing demand from the public to see some action.”

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