Overview
- The Senate voted 99-1 on July 2 to remove the 10-year moratorium on state AI regulation from President Trump’s budget reconciliation bill.
- Sen. Marsha Blackburn teamed up with Sen. Maria Cantwell to lead a bipartisan amendment that secured overwhelming support for restoring state authority.
- The decision defied backing from Silicon Valley executives and White House tech advisors who had warned against a patchwork of state rules.
- Over 20 states have enacted or proposed AI measures addressing deepfakes, algorithmic bias and children’s online safety, highlighting local efforts to manage the technology.
- Lawmakers and advocacy groups are now urging Congress to draft comprehensive federal AI legislation that harmonizes diverse state frameworks.