LUGPA Policy Brief: Recent Developments in AI Legislation and Policy
October 2025
Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly integrated into healthcare delivery, from diagnostic tools and patient data management to daily practice operations in urology. Congress and the Administration are advancing a bipartisan slate of proposals that address risk evaluation, liability, education, innovation, neural data privacy, and federal research and development priorities. These developments carry significant implications for specialty care innovation, regulatory compliance, and patient protections.
Newly Introduced AI Legislation
Artificial Intelligence Risk Evaluation Act
Sens. Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) introduced legislation creating an Advanced AI Evaluation Program at the Department of Energy. The program would assess advanced AI systems for risks such as loss of control or weaponization. Developers would be required to share system information upon request, and deployment would be prohibited until requirements are met. The DOE must provide annual oversight reports to Congress, and violations could trigger penalties of at least $1 million per day.
AI LEAD Act (Aligning Incentives for Leadership, Excellence, and Advancement in Development)
Sponsored by Sens. Hawley and Durbin, this bill would classify AI systems as products, allowing for liability claims in the event of harm. The goal is to encourage accountability and safe design while avoiding limits on innovation.
LIFT AI Act (Literacy in Future Technologies)
Reps. Tom Kean, Jr. (R-NJ) and Gabe Amo (D-RI) introduced this measure to expand AI literacy in K–12 education. The bill directs the National Science Foundation to fund educator training, promote project-based curricula, and develop proficiency assessments for students.
Future of AI Innovation Act
Sens. Todd Young (R-IN) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) plan to reintroduce legislation authorizing the U.S. AI Safety Institute at NIST. The institute would establish voluntary standards and create testbeds at national labs to foster innovation tied to economic growth and national security.
New Data Privacy Legislation
MIND Act (Management of Individuals’ Neural Data Act of 2025)
Sens. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Edward Markey (D-MA), and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) introduced legislation to safeguard neural data—information on brain activity that may reveal thoughts, emotions, or decisions. The bill directs the FTC to convene stakeholders, establish governance frameworks, investigate regulatory gaps, and prohibit the federal use of neurotechnology that conflicts with guidance from the FTC or OSTP.
OSTP FY 2027 R&D Priorities Memorandum
The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) released its federal R&D investment guidance, emphasizing “Gold Standard Science” across five priority areas:
- Critical and emerging technologies (including AI and quantum)
- Energy dominance
- National security
- Health and biotechnology
- Space exploration
Why it Matters
These legislative and regulatory actions reflect a bipartisan effort to strike a balance between innovation, accountability, and privacy in the development of AI. For healthcare—and urology practices in particular—this evolving policy landscape may affect AI-assisted diagnostics, clinical workflows, and patient data protections. LUGPA will continue to monitor developments and advocate for policies that expand access to safe and effective AI applications while preserving the viability of independent practice.
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