www. aamdhq. org
More specifically, the EO:
• Directs a government wide effort to strengthen cybersecurity infrastructure to support advanced AI deployment;
• Establishes a framework for the secure deployment of advanced, high-capability AI systems, called frontier models, through coordinated federal oversight and voluntary AI industry collaboration; and
• Focuses on deterring and prosecuting criminal misuse of AI by directing the Attorney General to prioritize the enforcement of existing federal laws relating to cybercrime and fraud.
For a deeper dive, access the White House’ s fact sheet on the Executive Order.
CONGRESS PRIORITIZES TECH POLICY
Congress has remained focused on addressing important tech policy issues through the first half of 2026, with AI emerging as the most significant.
Several recent developments have the potential to impact the rental housing industry.
• Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection Hearings: The Senate Banking Committee, as well as the House Homeland Security Committee’ s Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection, each held separate hearings that showed that AI governance, cybersecurity, affordability and data privacy are rapidly converging into one policy debate. The National Apartment Association( NAA), alongside its advocacy partners the National Multifamily Housing Council( NMHC) and the Real Estate Technology & Transformation Center( RETTC), submitted a letter to committee leaders highlighting the rental housing industry ' s support for federal leadership in AI.
• The American Leadership in AI Act: Representatives Jay Obernolte( R-Calif.) and Ted Lieu( D-Calif.) introduced H. R. 8516 The American Leadership in AI Act, a bipartisan package combining more than 20 legislative proposals drawn from recommendations of the House Bipartisan Task Force on Artificial Intelligence. The bill aims to strengthen U. S. leadership in AI by improving standards, testing and evaluation; expanding research infrastructure and innovation; modernizing federal AI governance, procurement and security; supporting education, workforce development and small businesses; and addressing AI-enabled crime, including deepfakes, fraud and impersonation.
• Great American AI Act: Representatives Obernolte and Lori Trahan( D-Mass.) released a discussion draft of the Great American AI Act, bipartisan legislation to create a federal framework for AI. The bill’ s purpose is to establish a unified federal approach to governing advanced AI, strengthen U. S. leadership on AI, protect national security and support workers as adoption accelerates. This legislation establishes a governance framework for frontier AI models along with federal oversight, includes provisions to collect AI-related labor data to be able to better confront the challenges to the workforce and economic impact posed by AI and sets cybersecurity and critical infrastructure protections and security improvement incentives. Lastly, the legislation would temporarily preempt certain state and local laws targeting AI model development.
APARTMENT ADVOCATE
• Data Privacy: As policymakers focus on AI, Congress is also addressing Data Privacy, a closely related issue. Lawmakers in the House continue to work on comprehensive data privacy legislation with the House Financial Services Committee( H. R. 8398 GUARD Financial Data Act) working in tandem with House Energy and Commerce Committee( HR 8413 SECURE Data Act) to produce a matched pair of legislation aimed at addressing important data privacy considerations. NAA has joined with its partners at NMHC and RETTC in a letter supporting this joint effort as well as the House Financial Services Committee’ s work( See also Letter to House Financial Services Committee Leadership). Additionally, Senator Jerry Moran( R-Kan.) has reintroduced a comprehensive data privacy bill( S. 4211 Consumer Data Privacy and Security Act) which NAA also joined its partners at NMHC and RETTC have issued a letter of support.
NAA’ S PERSPECTIVE
NAA supports AI policy that promotes innovation, provides regulatory clarity and avoids conflicting requirements across jurisdictions. At the same time, policymakers should recognize that many important safeguards are already in place, and that additional requirements should be carefully tailored to avoid unintended consequences. Overly prescriptive or inconsistent regulations risk increasing costs, limiting technological adoption and ultimately reducing the benefits of AI for both housing providers and renters. Consistent with NAA, NMHC and RETTC advocacy, the rental housing industry will continue to engage with federal policymakers to support a balanced, innovation-forward approach that meets the evolving needs of the housing sector.
TRENDS JULY 2026 | 39