H.R. 7997: Research and Oversight of AI in Courts Act of 2026

H.R. 7997 would require the Attorney General, acting through the Director of the National Institute of Justice, to stand up an "AI Research and Oversight in Courts Task Force" no later than 60 days after enactment. The group would be temporary but structured: 15 total members, including 4 Federal government members and 11 non-Federal members, with 2 co-chairs — one from each side. If a seat opens up, the co-chairs would have 15 days to fill it.

The bill is built around independence and court expertise. Non-Federal members could not be employed by, contracted with, paid by, or represent any company that develops, markets, sells, or provides AI technologies or related services. Members also must have expertise in the official record-making process or the technology used to create or modify court records. Required perspectives include a specialist in civil liberty law, an active State court judge or a retired Federal court judge with experience reversing a ruling because of a record deficiency, and a member of a professional association focused on judicial record-making and related technology.

The task force's job is broad and practical. Its final report, due not later than 18 months after the task force is established, must go to the Attorney General and the Senate and House Committees on the Judiciary. That report must address 15 specific topics, including transcription accuracy, the effect of AI tools on people with speech impediments or accents, costs for litigants and courts, cybersecurity risks, data integrity, evidentiary value, possible watermarking or metadata rules, and a 10-year outlook for future technology. On top of that, status reports are due 4 months after enactment and every 4 months after that until the final report is submitted.

What the bill does not do is also important. It does not set a funding amount, create civil or criminal penalties, or mandate nationwide use of AI in courtrooms. Members would serve without compensation, though they could be reimbursed for travel expenses and per diem under the rates in subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5. The Act would end when the final report is submitted, meaning this is a research-and-oversight measure aimed at the entire "United States judicial system," defined here as all State and Federal courts in the United States and its territories.