WHAT THIS BILL REGULATES · 1 REQUIREMENT TYPE
How Is This Bill Enforced
Verbatim statutory text on the left; plain-language analysis and a per-section checklist on the right. Numbered markers cross-link to the matching checklist row.
This Act may be cited as the ''Resources for Evaluating and Documenting AI Models'' or the ''READ AI Models Act''.
Establishes the short title of the Act as the Resources for Evaluating and Documenting AI Models or the READ AI Models Act. No compliance obligations are created.
(a)(1) 1 Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, in consultation with the heads of other Federal agencies, as appropriate, shall initiate a pilot program to establish a structured template and associated technical guidelines for documentation to accompany artificial intelligence modelsArtificial intelligence modelThe term "artificial intelligence model" means a software component of an information system that implements artificial intelligence technology and uses computational, statistical, or machine-learning techniques to produce outputs from a defined set of inputs.Sec. 2(a)(5)(C) and associated data developed and used by the public sector or private sector.
This subsection directs the NIST Director, subject to appropriations and in consultation with other federal agencies, to initiate a pilot program to establish a structured template and associated technical guidelines for documentation to accompany AI models and associated data developed and used by the public or private sector. This is a government-directed initiative — it imposes no compliance obligations on private entities.
(a)(2)(A) 2 Produce a structured template designed to enable a user to document information about an artificial intelligence modelArtificial intelligence modelThe term "artificial intelligence model" means a software component of an information system that implements artificial intelligence technology and uses computational, statistical, or machine-learning techniques to produce outputs from a defined set of inputs.Sec. 2(a)(5)(C) and associated data, which may include the following information: (i) The name of such model. (ii) The identification of the developer of such model. (iii) The identification of the location where such developer is incorporated. (iv) The release date of such model. (v) The knowledge cutoff date for such model's training data. (vi) Languages supported by such model. (vii) Terms of service of such model. (viii) Any other information the DirectorDirectorThe term "Director" means the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology.Sec. 2(a)(5)(A) determines appropriate.
(a)(2)(B) 2 Ensure such template is modular in nature, such that users can flexibly adopt and complete sections, categories, or other similar components of such template in accordance with a specific use case, including relating to sector-specific needs, intended audiences, and a set of desired characteristics.
(a)(2)(C) 2 Provide detailed technical guidelines accompanying such template that— (i) make available relevant metrics or benchmarks for each component of such template for a range of artificial intelligence modelArtificial intelligence modelThe term "artificial intelligence model" means a software component of an information system that implements artificial intelligence technology and uses computational, statistical, or machine-learning techniques to produce outputs from a defined set of inputs.Sec. 2(a)(5)(C) types, as applicable; and (ii) incorporate voluntary consensus-based technical standards and industry best practices, as appropriate.
This subsection specifies the activities NIST must carry out within the pilot program: producing a structured, modular template covering model identification details (name, developer, incorporation location, release date, knowledge cutoff, supported languages, terms of service), ensuring the template is modular to accommodate sector-specific use cases and audiences, and providing detailed technical guidelines with relevant metrics, benchmarks, and voluntary consensus-based standards. The template content list is illustrative, not exhaustive — the Director retains discretion to include additional information deemed appropriate.
(a)(3)(A) 3 Collaborate with private sector entities, institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizationsNonprofit organizationThe term "nonprofit organization" means an organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from tax under section 501(a) of such Code.Sec. 2(a)(5)(E), international standards organizationsInternational standards organizationThe term "international standards organization" has the meaning given such term in section 451 of the Trade Agreements Act of 1979 (19 U.S.C. 2571).Sec. 2(a)(5)(F), and Federal agencies, as the DirectorDirectorThe term "Director" means the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology.Sec. 2(a)(5)(A) determines appropriate, including conducting periodic outreach to such entities, institutions, organizations, and agencies.
(a)(3)(B) 3 Publish in the Federal Register a draft of the structured template and associated technical guidelines referred to in paragraph (1), and provide an opportunity for submission of public comments for a period of not less than 60 days to be considered for incorporation into such template and guidelines.
This subsection requires NIST to solicit stakeholder input when developing the documentation template and guidelines. The Director must collaborate with private sector entities, higher education institutions, nonprofit organizations, international standards organizations, and other federal agencies. Additionally, the Director must publish a draft of the template and guidelines in the Federal Register and provide at least 60 days for public comment. This is a standard administrative-law notice-and-comment process applied to voluntary AI guidance development.
(a)(4)(A) 4 Submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report that includes the following: (i) An assessment on the effectiveness of such pilot program. (ii) If so assessed to be effective, a plan for permanent implementation, including relating to administration, of such pilot program.
(a)(4)(B) 5 Make publicly available on the website of the National Institute of Standards and Technology the structured template and associated technical guidelines referred to in paragraph (1), including the incorporation of any appropriate comments in accordance with paragraph (3)(B).
Within 12 months of establishing the pilot program, NIST must report to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on the program's effectiveness and, if effective, a plan for permanent implementation. NIST must also publish the final structured template and technical guidelines on its public website, incorporating appropriate public comments received during the comment period.
(a)(5)(A) The term ''DirectorDirectorThe term "Director" means the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology.Sec. 2(a)(5)(A)'' means the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
(a)(5)(B) The term ''artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligenceThe term "artificial intelligence" has the meaning given such term in section 5002 of the National Artificial Intelligence Initiative Act of 2020 (15 U.S.C. 9401).Sec. 2(a)(5)(B)'' has the meaning given such term in section 5002 of the National Artificial IntelligenceArtificial intelligenceThe term "artificial intelligence" has the meaning given such term in section 5002 of the National Artificial Intelligence Initiative Act of 2020 (15 U.S.C. 9401).Sec. 2(a)(5)(B) Initiative Act of 2020 (15 U.S.C. 9401).
(a)(5)(C) The term ''artificial intelligence modelArtificial intelligence modelThe term "artificial intelligence model" means a software component of an information system that implements artificial intelligence technology and uses computational, statistical, or machine-learning techniques to produce outputs from a defined set of inputs.Sec. 2(a)(5)(C)'' means a software component of an information system that implements artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligenceThe term "artificial intelligence" has the meaning given such term in section 5002 of the National Artificial Intelligence Initiative Act of 2020 (15 U.S.C. 9401).Sec. 2(a)(5)(B) technology and uses computational, statistical, or machine-learning techniques to produce outputs from a defined set of inputs.
(a)(5)(D) The term ''institution of higher educationInstitution of higher educationThe term "institution of higher education" has the meaning given such term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)).Sec. 2(a)(5)(D)'' has the meaning given such term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)).
(a)(5)(E) The term ''nonprofit organizationNonprofit organizationThe term "nonprofit organization" means an organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from tax under section 501(a) of such Code.Sec. 2(a)(5)(E)'' means an organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from tax under section 501(a) of such Code.
(a)(5)(F) The term ''international standards organizationInternational standards organizationThe term "international standards organization" has the meaning given such term in section 451 of the Trade Agreements Act of 1979 (19 U.S.C. 2571).Sec. 2(a)(5)(F)'' has the meaning given such term in section 451 of the Trade Agreements Act of 1979 (19 U.S.C. 2571).
This subsection defines key terms used throughout the Act: Director (Director of NIST), artificial intelligence (by reference to the National AI Initiative Act of 2020), artificial intelligence model (a software component implementing AI technology that uses computational, statistical, or machine-learning techniques to produce outputs from inputs), and several stakeholder-category terms. No compliance obligations are created.