Bills · S 501
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
Senate BillS 501Chemical and biological weaponsInfectious and parasitic diseases
Strategy for Public Health Preparedness and Response to Artificial Intelligence Threats
INTRO FEB 10· LAST ACTION FEB 10
READING
4MIN
COSPONSORS
1
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 artificial intelligence is rapidly advancing, and with new technologies come new risks. It aims to proactively address potential public health threats that could arise from the misuse of AI, such as the creation of novel biological weapons or engineered pathogens that are resistant to existing medicines. If this bill becomes law, the government will be required to develop a specific, coordinated plan to identify and mitigate these emerging dangers, integrating them into the national public health emergency response system.
Without this bill, there might be a gap in national preparedness for AI-related biological threats. The country's current emergency response framework may not explicitly cover these specific, technologically-driven risks, potentially leaving the public vulnerable. By mandating a strategy, the bill pushes for foresight and preparedness in an area of rapidly evolving technology that could have significant real-world impact on health and safety.
KEY PROVISIONS
4AI-extractedPROVISION 01
Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to develop and submit a comprehensive strategy for public health preparedness and response to artificial intelligence (AI) threats within 180 days of the bill becoming law.
This ensures a focused, top-level plan is created to address emerging AI-related risks to national health security.
PROVISION 02
Mandates that the strategy must include specific plans to mitigate risks from AI misuse, particularly the development of biological weapons and the design of treatment-resistant viruses and bacteria.
PROVISION 03
Amends existing law to integrate the new AI threat response strategy into the broader framework for coordinating responses to all types of public health emergencies.
This ensures AI preparedness is not an isolated effort but a coordinated part of the national emergency response system.
PROVISION 04
Requires the strategy to identify current gaps in public health capabilities to address AI threats and propose ways to strengthen these capabilities.
This focuses the plan on practical improvements and resource allocation to improve readiness.
SPONSORSHIP
1 + 1
R· North Carolina
YRS IN OFFICE
9
BILLS LED
61
COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 0%
DEM 1 REP 0 IND 0
ACTION TIMELINE
2 EVENTSFEB 10
Introduced in Senate
FEB 10
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
BILL INFO
TypeSenate Bill
NumberS 501
Congress119th
StatusIn Committee
IntroducedFeb 10, 2025
Last actionFeb 10, 2025
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IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · HEALTH, EDUCATION, LABOR, AND PENSIONS COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED FEB 10, 2025
Senate BillS 501Chemical and biological weaponsInfectious and parasitic diseases
Strategy for Public Health Preparedness and Response to Artificial Intelligence Threats
INTRODUCED FEB 10, 2025· LAST ACTION FEB 10, 2025
PASSAGE CHANCES
—%
READING
4 min
COSPONSORS
1
COMPLEXITY
Moderate
