AI Emergency Button Act
Requires entities operating or developing advanced AI systems in the United States to include a human-controlled shutdown capability.
In the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee since Sept. 16, 2026, 20 days after it was introduced. Most bills never leave committee.
- INTRODUCEDINTROSEP 16, 2026
- COMMITTEECOMM.IN COMMITTEE
- SENATESENATE—
- HOUSEHOUSE—
- LAWLAW—
What the bill would do, and why it matters
AI systems can operate with varying levels of human control. The bill would require entities that develop or operate advanced AI systems in the United States to include a way for a human operator to shut them down, with compliance rules set by Homeland Security.
- INTRODUCED ONLY This bill has been introduced and possibly referred to a committee, but it has not passed any vote. Most introduced bills never become law — they die in committee without a hearing.
- DATA NOTE No Congressional Research Service summary was available.
- Require human-controlled shutdown capability
Entities that develop or operate an advanced artificial intelligence system in the United States would have to ensure the system has a technical capability for a human operator to shut it down.
- Set compliance rules
The Secretary of Homeland Security, consulting with relevant federal agencies that oversee AI systems, would have to issue regulations to ensure compliance.
The bill would make human control over shutting down covered AI systems a legal requirement, with federal regulations intended to ensure entities comply. The practical stakes are whether a human operator can stop a system when needed, though the bill does not specify when shutdowns should occur or how the capability must work.
Written from the bill text.
The path it took, step by step
- IntroducedSEP 16, 2026SENATESEP 16, 2026By Sen. KennedyReferred to Commerce, Science, and Transportation
- SAME DAYNOWSenate committeeSEP 16, 2026COMMERCE, SCIENCE, & TRANSPORTATION NOWSEP 16, 2026In committee for 20 daysNo hearing yet
- 20 DAYS SO FARPassed the Senate—SENATE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- House committee—HOUSE—
- Passed the House—HOUSE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- Resolve differencesONLY IF NEEDEDBOTH CHAMBERSONLY IF NEEDEDSkipped if the other chamber passes the same text
- Signed into law—PRESIDENT—10 days to sign or veto
- SEP 162026SEP 16, 2026REFERREDRead twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- SEP 162026SEP 16, 2026INTRODUCEDSENATEIntroduced in Senate
At day 20, this bill is already older than 6% of the laws passed this Congress were when they were signed.
In committee · Science, Space, and Technology · No cosponsors · introduced by Thomas H. Kean, Jr..
H.R. 10567 is the same bill introduced in the House. Companion bills let both chambers work on one idea at once; when one passes, the other chamber often takes up the version that already passed.
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