Bipartisan Senate Vote Rejects Federal AI Regulation Ban

A strong bipartisan consensus in the U.S. Senate has led to the removal of a 10-year federal moratorium on state artificial intelligence regulation from President Trump’s sweeping tax and spending bill. The 99-1 vote, a remarkable display of unity, clears the path for states to independently regulate AI, addressing concerns about the technology’s rapid development.
Senator Marsha Blackburn, a Republican, successfully introduced the amendment to strike the contentious ban. This pivotal moment occurred during a marathon “vote-a-rama,” a parliamentary procedure that allows for numerous amendments to be considered. The outcome signals a significant shift towards empowering states in the realm of AI policy, allowing them to respond to specific local needs and challenges.
Previously, the Senate’s iteration of Trump’s bill would have subtly discouraged state AI regulation by making non-compliant states ineligible for a $500 million fund for AI infrastructure. The complete removal of the ban, however, is a more forceful statement, unequivocally granting states the authority to legislate on AI without federal encumbrance. This opens new avenues for proactive state-level governance.
This decision contrasts with the views of major AI companies, including Google and OpenAI, which have advocated for a singular federal regulatory framework to prevent a fragmented and potentially innovation-stifling landscape. However, Senator Blackburn underscored the immediate need for state-level protections, asserting that “Until Congress passes federally preemptive legislation like the Kids Online Safety Act and an online privacy framework, we can’t block states from making laws that protect their citizens.”