Senate Removes AI Regulations
Early Tuesday morning, the Senate voted to eliminate regulations that restrict artificial intelligence (AI), with an overwhelming 99-1 vote. The only dissenting vote came from Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.).
This move marks a significant shift in the ongoing conversation around the AI Moratorium.
Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) announced over the weekend that she had struck a deal with Senate Commerce Chair Ted Cruz (R-Texas) to introduce new language that would ban AI regulations for five years. This agreement also included measures on child online safety and exemptions regarding publicity rights.
As support for Blackburn’s revision grew late Monday, an amendment was suggested to take action regarding President Trump’s extensive tax legislation.
However, Cruz acknowledged on the Senate floor early Tuesday that many colleagues were hesitant to engage with this issue. He mentioned, “A few hours ago we had an agreement for the Blackburn-Cruz amendment to pass.”
During his remarks, Cruz noted that he had discussed the deal with President Trump the prior night, who deemed it beneficial for protecting children and safeguarding the rights of creative professionals. Yet, there were external forces against the agreement.
Blackburn voiced her concerns about the alterations to the clause while speaking on the Senate floor. She expressed disappointment at not reaching a compromise that would safeguard governors, state legislators, attorney generals, and House members who had raised issues with the language.
She thanked Sen. Cruz for his efforts and acknowledged his attempts to find a resolution, but reiterated a troubling sentiment: “This body proves that it cannot legislate emerging technologies.”
Blackburn stressed that Congress has struggled to enact laws around online privacy, AI, and other tech topics, highlighting her commitment to the Kids Online Safety Act, which she reintroduced last month. Although this bill was approved by the Senate last year, it stalled in the House.
Blackburn added, “Do you know who passed it? It’s our state. They’re focused on protecting children in digital environments and ensuring our celebrities—along with their names, images, and likenesses—are safeguarded.”
The revised provision aimed to prohibit state AI regulations for five years if they sought access to $500 million in AI infrastructure and deployment funding, effectively reducing the original timeline of ten years by half.
