Federal Legislation

The Kentucky Chamber is urging Congress to pass the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act before year-end, citing permitting delays as a barrier to energy and infrastructure investment. The Senate advanced consideration of the bill during the week of November 12, 2026; if enacted, proposed review deadlines and limits on certain legal challenges could affect project schedules, but no procurement opportunity is identified.

Venice.ai founder Erik Voorhees criticized a proposed federal pre-release approval regime for advanced AI, warning it could concentrate control and disadvantage smaller and open-source developers. The Sanders-Casar bill is not enacted, and the report identifies no current procurement requirement or acquisition opportunity.

The U.S. Senate has endorsed the Telecommunications Cybersecurity and Resilience Act to bolster cybersecurity for the telecom sector. This bill will create voluntary best practices, presenting new procurement opportunities for contractors that offer cybersecurity consulting and compliance services.

The Expanding AI Voices Act seeks to broaden participation in AI education and research by creating new NSF grant opportunities for emerging and minority-serving institutions. This initiative is expected to stimulate demand for contractors in AI infrastructure and workforce development.

Senators Cortez Masto and Daines have proposed the Federal Mechanical Insulation Act, requiring energy audits for federal buildings. This legislation aims to improve energy efficiency, reduce costs, and create labor opportunities in the mechanical insulation industry.