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RobotMe policy watch

U.S. Policy & Legislation

Follow congressional bills, federal actions, and enacted state measures shaping robotics, autonomy, and AI. Each brief distinguishes proposals and notices from enacted law and links to the official record.

Last complete record check October 27, 2026 · 35 updates

U.S. Congress

H.R. 10860 · Introduced bill
Introduced in House; referred to Armed Services Committee

House bill would restrict China-linked robots in Defense Department operations

If enacted, the bill would bar the Defense Department from new or renewed contracts for covered robotic systems after one year, restrict their operation in sensitive environments after two years, and phase out federal spending on their lease or operation. It defines covered systems to include specified China-produced quadrupeds and unmanned ground vehicles, certain LiDAR products, and other systems the Defense Secretary identifies under the bill's criteria.

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H.R. 10304 · Bill
Ordered reported by House committee

House committee advances drone safety-statement bill

The amended proposal would require the FAA to maintain a safety statement covering laws, operating qualifications, airspace restrictions, lawful-airspace checks, safety recommendations, and potential enforcement consequences. Small-drone manufacturers would provide the statement when an initial operator first activates a system, and the operator would acknowledge reading it.

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S. 5171 · Bill
Ordered reported by committee

Senate committee advances AI-enabled toy safety study

The amended proposal would direct the National Academies to begin a study of injury risks and other outcomes from AI-enabled toys within six months after enactment. It would also require the FTC and Consumer Product Safety Commission to submit a joint action plan within two years with recommendations on legislation, regulation, disclosures, standards, privacy, safety, reviews, and public education.

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Public Law 119-86 (H.R. 7147) · Federal law
Enacted

DHS appropriations law sets autonomous surveillance and UAS limits

Section 207 bars specified Customs and Border Protection funds from being used to procure or deploy surveillance systems that are not autonomous under the law's referenced definition. Section 219 provides $98 million for MQ-9 aircraft, associated base stations and program support, while barring DHS funds from acquiring or equipping long-range unmanned aircraft with kinetic capabilities.

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Federal actions

Proclamation 11077 / FR Doc. 2026-22385 · Presidential proclamation
Signed; filed for public inspection October 30; publication scheduled November 2

U.S. directs trade talks over robotics and machinery imports

Citing a Commerce Department national-security investigation under Section 232, the proclamation calls for negotiations to address import risks and continued monitoring of robotics and machinery imports. It names possible future remedies, including tariffs, duties, quotas and fees, depending on negotiations.

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TREAS-DO-2026-0595 / FR Doc. 2026-21786 · Proposed rule
Proposed; comments due December 7

Treasury proposes investment controls that could cover physical AI

The proposal would prohibit certain covered U.S. investments involving foreign persons developing systems within its proposed 'super intelligence' category. Its definition explicitly includes embodied systems, with industrial, humanoid and quadruped robots, autonomous vehicles and unmanned systems as examples when they use such a system.

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NHTSA-2026-1519 / FR Doc. 2026-21794 · Proposed rule
Proposed; comments open through November 25

NHTSA proposes lighting rules for vehicles without manual driving controls

The proposal would narrow certain requirements for manual turn-signal, hazard-warning and beam-switching controls on vehicles built without manual driving controls. It would also permit optional cyan-colored ADS marker lamps under standardized specifications, and revise some headlamp testing and mounting provisions.

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FMCSA-2026-0958 · Agency exemption
Exemption in effect

FMCSA grants five-year warning-beacon exemption for Level 4 trucks

Aurora and other motor carriers that give FMCSA prior written notice may use qualifying cab-mounted warning beacons on Level 4 automated-driving-system commercial vehicles instead of placing traditional warning triangles or fusees around a stopped truck. The exemption also covers the related steady-burning-lamp rule and includes operating, equipment, crash-reporting, and annual-reporting conditions.

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FAA-2026-4558 · Proposed rule
Comment period closed

FAA proposal would create fixed-site drone flight restrictions

The proposal would establish an application and FAA-review process for standard or special drone flight restrictions near eligible facilities. Applicants would have to show that a restriction is needed for aviation safety, protection of people or property, national security, or homeland security, while the rule would identify operations permitted within a restriction.

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California