Bill · S. 5541· Senate(119-S-5541)
Cybersecurity and AI Board of Investigations Act of 2026
- Introduced
- 9/24/2026
- Last activity
- 9/24/2026 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- Sponsored by
- Edward Markey
- Cosponsors
- None
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill establishes the Cybersecurity and AI Board of Investigations as an independent establishment within the Federal Government. The Board is tasked with conducting independent, unclassified reviews and assessments of significant cyber incidents, near-misses, and systemic vulnerabilities, paying special attention to artificial intelligence and emerging technologies. It is composed of five Senate-confirmed members appointed by the President for five-year terms. The Board operates without assigning legal fault or liability, functioning separately from regulatory enforcement actions. Additionally, the legislation creates a voluntary, anonymized reporting system for near-misses and grants the Board administrative subpoena powers to gather necessary information.
Yes· 3 of 7
Does this better protect the country from computer attacks?+8
The bill establishes the Cybersecurity and AI Board of Investigations to conduct independent reviews of cyber incidents and bolster the cyber defenses of public and private institutions.
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?+5
The Board is required to make its investigation reports and trend analyses publicly available with plain language executive summaries to foster learning across sectors.
Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices?+4
By investigating significant cyber incidents and AI-driven risks in critical infrastructure, the Board helps enhance overall digital safety and consumer protection.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Strengthened Cyber Defenses: Section 3(b)(3) outlines the purpose of the Board to bolster the cyber defenses of public and private institutions, specifically targeting risks posed by artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies to protect public safety and critical infrastructure like clean and wastewater utilities.
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Voluntary Reporting Protections: Section 3(b)(5) and Section 3(j) establish a voluntary, anonymized near-miss reporting system and provide strong protections for information voluntarily provided to the Board, ensuring that submitted proprietary information is exempt from Freedom of Information Act requests and shielding providers from certain legal liabilities.
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Improved Public Transparency: Section 3(e) requires the Board to make its investigation reports and trend analyses publicly available with plain language executive summaries, which helps educate both the public and private sectors on how to proactively reduce cybersecurity threats and security vulnerabilities.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Subpoena Powers and Compliance Burdens: Section 3(i)(3) authorizes the Board to issue administrative subpoenas compelling entities or individuals to disclose documents and testimony, which could impose legal burdens and compliance costs on private citizens or organizations under investigation.
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Civil Action for Non-Compliance: Section 3(i)(3)(C) allows the Chair to refer matters to the Attorney General to bring a civil action in a U.S. district court against any entity or individual that fails to comply with a subpoena issued by the Board, potentially resulting in court contempt charges.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+5Increases Federal Power+3
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Improves Cybersecurity Defense+8
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Consumer Protection+4Improves Small Business Support+3
- Education And Technology
- Improves Data Privacy+4
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Business Owners+3
- 9/24/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- Introduced in Senate