PATHS Act

Producing Advanced Technologies for Homeland Security Act or the PATHS Act

This bill extends through FY2028 the authority of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to use other transactions (OT) to carry out research and prototype projects when the use of contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements is not feasible or appropriate. (OTs, in contrast to traditional procurement contracts, are exempt from many federal procurement laws and regulations.) DHS must notify Congress within 72 hours of using or extending this authority for research and development projects related to artificial intelligence technology and must offer to brief Congress on the rationale for such a decision.

The bill also lowers from $4 million to $1 million the minimum value of contract awards that DHS must publicly report on its website.

Other titles

the names this measure carries besides the one at the top of this page, each with the record's own label for it. The collection includes titles given to parts of a bill as well as to the whole.

To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to enable secure and trustworthy technology through other transaction contracting authority, and for other purposes.Official Title as IntroducedOfficial Titles from EH (Engrossed in House) bill text

PATHS ActShort Title(s) as IntroducedShort Title(s) as Passed HouseShort Titles from RFS (Referred to Senate) bill text

Producing Advanced Technologies for Homeland Security ActShort Title(s) as IntroducedShort Title(s) as Passed HouseShort Titles from RFS (Referred to Senate) bill text

Legislative history

H.R. 1692·House·Bill·Government Operations and Politics

Rep. Michael Guest(Republican-Mississippi-3)·

Feb 27, 2025

IntroducedIntroduced in House

Feb 27, 2025

HouseReferred to the House Committee on Homeland Security.

Feb 27, 2025

House · CommitteeReferred to the Subcommittee on Emergency Management and Technology.

Mar 10, 2025

House · FloorMr. Green (TN) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

Mar 10, 2025

House · FloorConsidered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1055-1056)

Mar 10, 2025

House · FloorDEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1692.

Mar 10, 2025

House · FloorAt the conclusion of debate, the chair put the question on the motion to suspend the rules. Mr. Green (TN) objected to the vote on the grounds that a quorum was not present. Further proceedings on the motion were postponed. The point of no quorum was considered as withdrawn.

Mar 11, 2025

House · FloorConsidered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H1127)

Mar 11, 2025

House · FloorOn motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: 3/10/2025 CR H1055)

Mar 11, 2025

House · FloorMotion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

Mar 12, 2025

SenateReceived in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Documents

Everything Congress printed about this measure. A bill is reprinted each time it changes, the Congressional Research Service summarizes each version, and the committee that reports a bill files its own written account of it.

Bill text

Mar 12, 2025As referred to a Senate committee Mar 11, 2025As passed by the House Feb 27, 2025As introduced in the House

Plain-language summaries

Feb 27, 2025