Proposed — not law
What is an AI kill switch?
A way to interrupt a powerful AI system — and a bipartisan House bill that would require some companies to keep that ability. H.R. 9917 is proposed legislation, not a statute.
As of September 24, 2026, this bill has not become law.
Is the AI Kill Switch Act law?
No. As of September 24, 2026, H.R. 9917 has been introduced and sent to a House Homeland Security subcommittee. It has not passed either chamber.
Read the detailWho could flip it?
If it became law, the Homeland Security Secretary, through the CISA Director, after consulting the Commerce Secretary and the Director of National Intelligence.
Read the detailWhich companies would have to build one?
Those that offer a covered system to others through an API or hosted service and, with affiliates, took in at least $500 million from that technology last year.
Read the detailWhat would they have to be able to do?
Stop inference, terminate user access, suspend risky accounts or uses, and fully shut the system down. Rules would also consider throttling and rollback.
Read the detailWhat it would do
Require a covered company to be able to stop a covered system, and authorize a proportionate emergency order after a defined incident, with reporting and preserved records.
Who it covers
Large providers of very expensive systems offered to third parties. Not every lab, app, or open-source project. The Secretary could adjust the definitions by rule if the bill passed.
What it would not do
It would not ban AI, cap training, create a crime, or reach every copied set of weights. It is not in force.