Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) is urging the Senate to eliminate clauses from President Trump’s “big beautiful bill” that would prevent states from regulating artificial intelligence, arguing it infringes upon state rights.
“To be honest, I wasn’t aware of this part in the bill on pages 278-279. It essentially strips states of their ability to create laws regarding AI for the next decade,” Greene posted on Tuesday. “I oppose this, and had I known it violated state rights, I would have voted against it.”
“We really don’t know what AI could evolve into over the next ten years. It seems risky to restrict state oversight,” she continued, emphasizing her concerns as a Republican representative from Georgia.
Greene has introduced complications for House GOP leaders, stating she won’t support the bill upon her return unless the provision is removed.
Within the tightly divided House GOP, Republicans can only afford to lose three votes on any party initiative. Last month, two Republicans voted against the bill during its passage through the House: Rep. Thomas Massey (Ky.) and Warren Davidson (Ohio).
“We need to reduce federal power and bolster state authority,” she said. “Especially given the rapid advancement of AI, which even experts admit they don’t fully comprehend.”
Her stance coincides with the Senate’s upcoming discussions on Trump’s extensive tax and spending proposals that recently passed the House.
Titled “One Big Beautiful Bill,” the legislation aims to extend Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, boost funding for border and defense, while cutting allocations for programs like food assistance and Medicaid.
The bill proposes a ten-year halt on state regulations concerning AI models, automated systems, or decision-making processes, affecting both existing and future state laws.
Supporters of the moratorium argue that inconsistent state laws could confuse technology companies as they operate across different regions.
While some House Republicans endorsed the initiative, others emphasized the need for a federal framework to override state regulations.
Additionally, several Democrats and tech advocacy groups worry that a federal framework could delay necessary regulation, potentially jeopardizing AI safety.
Earlier on Tuesday, a coalition of 260 state lawmakers raised concerns to members of the House and Senate, warning that the provision might “hinder ongoing state efforts.”
Nonetheless, the provision faces a tough road ahead in the Senate, where some members have already voiced their apprehensions about embedding “unrelated issues” in the broader package, especially provisions that “do not alter expenditures or revenue.”
The scope of the bill includes directives for the Commerce Department to allocate funds for modernizing and safeguarding federal IT systems through commercial AI deployment.
Soon, senators will determine whether the suspension is in violation of the Byrd Rule.
