A Republican-led initiative designed to impose a moratorium on state-level artificial intelligence regulation successfully cleared a significant procedural obstacle this past Saturday. The measure, spearheaded by Senate Commerce Committee Chair Ted Cruz, has undergone substantial alterations intended to comply with Senate budgetary guidelines. The revised proposal would temporarily halt federal broadband funding to any state that actively enforces its own AI regulations over the next decade.
With adjustments meeting Senate procedural requirements, the Senate Parliamentarian confirmed that the clause adheres to legislative rules, thus allowing it to be lawfully included within the Republicans’ comprehensive legislative package, known colloquially as the “One Big, Beautiful Bill.” Crucially, this classification means that only a simple majority would be required for passage, significantly reducing the threat of a Democratic filibuster or the need for bipartisan support.
Nevertheless, internal Republican support for the moratorium remains uncertain. Senator Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee publicly challenged the measure, emphasizing the importance of state-led protections, stating explicitly that states should retain autonomy in safeguarding their residents. Similarly, despite the House of Representatives having approved a comparable version of the bill earlier this year, a significant voice of dissent arose from far-right Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, who voiced vehement opposition, labeling it an infringement upon state sovereignty and urging removal of this provision in the Senate.
House Speaker Mike Johnson has defended the moratorium, referencing its endorsement by former President Donald Trump and urging caution against allowing individual states to independently regulate AI, citing potential national security concerns.
Industry experts and advocacy groups have been vocal in their concern. In a recent analysis, Americans for Responsible Innovation cautioned that the broadly phrased moratorium could inadvertently eliminate many existing and proposed state regulations aimed at safeguarding citizens from algorithmic bias and other AI-related risks. Their assessment warned of a regulatory void that could open up, absent corresponding federal standards to replace the state-level protections.
Meanwhile, several states have already forged ahead with their own regulatory initiatives on artificial intelligence. In California, Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed a widely discussed AI safety bill last year but signed other AI-related legislation addressing more limited issues such as privacy considerations and deepfake technology. New York lawmakers recently passed an AI safety bill now awaiting Governor Kathy Hochul’s approval, while Utah has implemented legislation focused on increasing transparency around AI systems.
