In one paragraph
The federal S. 3269 (Liquid Cooling for AI Act of 2025) would direct the Comptroller General to begin a review of liquid cooling for AI and high-performance computing data centers within 30 days after enactment and report within 90 days, with a Department of Energy assessment of that report due 180 days after it is received. Introduced November 20, 2025 and referred to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, whose Energy Subcommittee held a hearing April 15, 2026; no further action.
Plain-English summary, written with AI assistance. The official text controls.
What it means for business
None yet: the bill is pending. No duties for businesses. It directs the GAO and the Energy Department to review and report on liquid cooling for AI data centers.
Key provisions
- Sec. 2(c): within 30 days after enactment the Comptroller General shall initiate a review of research and development needs for liquid cooling in data centers and related market, technological and regulatory conditions
- The review covers avoided energy costs, added compute capacity, effects on performance, resiliency and cybersecurity, market adoption over the past 5 years, coolant options, reference architectures, waste-heat reuse and failure scenarios, and ends in recommendations
- The Secretary of Energy and the Comptroller General shall establish an advisory committee that includes hardware manufacturers, data center operators and fluid producers; it ends when the Energy Secretary submits the Sec. 2(e) report
- Sec. 2(d): within 90 days after enactment the Comptroller General shall submit the report to the Secretary of Energy and the congressional committees
- Sec. 2(e): within 180 days after receiving the report, the Secretary of Energy shall submit an assessment with considerations for Congress and recommendations for liquid cooling and heat-reuse R&D
- No appropriations, penalties or enforcement are in the text
Latest legislative action
Apr 15, 2026. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 119-366.
Sponsors
| Name | Role | District |
|---|---|---|
| Adam Schiff D | Sponsor | SD-CA |
| Christopher Coons D | Sponsor | SD-DE |
| David McCormick R | Sponsor | SD-PA |
| Ted Budd R | Sponsor | SD-NC |
Topics and industries
Related topics
Affected industries
This page is general information, not legal advice. Summaries are AI-assisted and may contain errors; read the statute for the controlling text and talk to a lawyer about your situation. Full disclaimer · Report an error