Bills · S 3680
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
Senate BillS 3680Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Eliminating Bias in Algorithmic Systems Act of 2026
INTRO JAN 15· LAST ACTION JAN 15
READING
4MIN
COSPONSORS
6
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
- Introduced only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 2 / 8Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed Senate
Passed House
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-writtenThis bill matters because complex computer programs, often called algorithms or AI, are increasingly used by the government to make important decisions that affect people's access to jobs, housing, loans, healthcare, and other vital services. While these systems can be efficient, they can also unintentionally carry biases from the data they were trained on, leading to unfair or discriminatory outcomes against certain groups of people.
If this bill becomes law, it would create a dedicated structure within federal agencies to proactively identify and address these potential biases and harms, ensuring greater accountability and fairness in government operations. If it doesn't pass, the risk remains that algorithmic systems could continue to perpetuate or exacerbate existing inequalities without specific oversight or reporting, leaving individuals vulnerable to biased decisions made by automated systems.
KEY PROVISIONS
5AI-extractedPROVISION 01
Requires federal agencies that use, fund, or oversee certain algorithms to establish an office of civil rights.
This creates dedicated internal structures within agencies to specifically focus on preventing bias and discrimination caused by advanced computer systems.
PROVISION 02
Mandates that these new civil rights offices submit reports to Congress every two years detailing algorithmic risks, mitigation steps, and legislative recommendations.
This ensures ongoing transparency and accountability from agencies regarding the fairness and impact of their algorithms and provides information for potential future policy.
PROVISION 03
Defines 'covered algorithm' broadly to include machine learning, AI, and similar complex computational processes that could materially affect access to agency programs, economic opportunities, or protected rights.
This clarifies the scope of the bill, focusing oversight on powerful algorithms with real-world impact on people's lives and rights.
PROVISION 04
Establishes an interagency working group on algorithms and civil rights, led by the Department of Justice, with members from all covered agency civil rights offices.
This promotes collaboration and consistent approaches across different federal agencies to address algorithmic bias and discrimination.
PROVISION 05
Includes a comprehensive list of 'protected characteristics' such as race, sex, disability, age, income level, and genetic information, to ensure broad protection against algorithmic bias.
This clarifies the specific grounds on which discrimination is to be prevented, aligning with and expanding upon existing civil rights protections.
SPONSORSHIP
1 + 6
D· Massachusetts
YRS IN OFFICE
51
BILLS LED
164
COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 0%
DEM 6 REP 0 IND 0
ACTION TIMELINE
2 EVENTSJAN 15
Introduced in Senate
JAN 15
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
BILL INFO
TypeSenate Bill
NumberS 3680
Congress119th
StatusIn Committee
IntroducedJan 15, 2026
Last actionJan 15, 2026
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IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · HOMELAND SECURITY AND GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED JAN 15, 2026
Senate BillS 3680Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Eliminating Bias in Algorithmic Systems Act of 2026
INTRODUCED JAN 15, 2026· LAST ACTION JAN 15, 2026
PASSAGE CHANCES
—%
READING
4 min
COSPONSORS
6
COMPLEXITY
Moderate
