Senate Commerce Committee Republicans are proposing an alternative to a controversial provision in President Trump’s tax and spending bill about states’ regulation of artificial intelligence (AI) after concerns arose from some GOP members.
The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee unveiled its proposed text for Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” Thursday. The new text altered the House version’s language surrounding a potential 10-year ban on state regulation of AI, which received pushback from at least two GOP senators and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.).
The provision in the Senate version requires states to not regulate AI if they want access to federal broadband funding.
This differs from the House-passed version, which would establish a blanket 10-year ban on state laws regulating AI models, systems or automated decision systems. This includes enforcement of existing and future laws on the state level.
Proponents of the moratorium argue a patchwork of state laws is confusing or burdensome to technology companies trying to innovate in multiple parts of the country.
While the provision sailed through the House Commerce Committee last month, it faced an uphill battle in the Senate.
Some senators warned the provision may not pass the Byrd Rule, a procedural rule prohibiting “extraneous matters” from being included in reconciliation packages. This includes provisions that do not “change outlays or revenues.”
The updated text appears to try to tie the 10-year moratorium closer to funding matters.
Some GOP members also have concerns about taking power away from the states.
Despite voting for the House version of the “big, beautiful bill,” Greene admitted this week she just learned of the AI provision.
“We don’t get the full bill text until very close to the time to vote for it, and so that was one section that was two pages that I didn’t see,” Greene later told NewsNation, adding, “I find it so problematic that I’m willing to come forward and admit there are two pages that I didn’t read, because I never want to see a situation where state rights are stripped away.”
Greene said she would vote against the spending bill when it comes back to the House unless the provision is removed. It is not clear whether the Senate version would appease her concerns.
Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), both known for their criticism of major tech companies, also pushed back against the moratorium before the Senate altered the text.
“We certainly know that in Tennessee we need those protections,” Blackburn said during a hearing last month on the No Fakes Act, which would create federal protections for artists’ voice, likeness and image from nonconsensual AI-generated deepfakes.
“Until we pass something that is federally preemptive, we can’t call for a moratorium,” she said.
Hawley said earlier this week the moratorium “better be out,” Politico reported.
Aside from AI regulatory concerns, the tax and spending bill — officially titled the One Big Beautiful Bill Act — extends Trump’s 2017 tax cuts and boosts funding for border and defense priorities, while cutting spending on programs such as food assistance and Medicaid.
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