In a strong bipartisan move, the U.S. Senate voted 99–1 on Monday night to eliminate a controversial provision from Republicans’ sweeping domestic policy bill that would have blocked states from enforcing their own artificial intelligence (AI) regulations for a decade.
The proposed 10-year moratorium had sparked widespread concern, as it threatened to invalidate many current and proposed state laws aimed at curbing the harmful use of AI — including rules around deepfakes, privacy, and algorithmic discrimination. Critics argued the provision would have undermined local efforts to hold tech companies accountable in the absence of a comprehensive federal AI law.
The amendment to strike the moratorium was co-sponsored by Senators Ed Markey (D-MA), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN). Markey celebrated the outcome, saying, “Congress will not sell out our kids and local communities in order to pad the pockets of Big Tech billionaires.”
The Senate’s decision followed mounting opposition from advocacy groups, academics, state lawmakers, and even some industry voices who favored state-level flexibility to address urgent AI concerns. At least one House Republican, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, had warned she would vote against the entire bill unless the moratorium was removed.
Now, the legislation — still targeting a July 4 deadline for President Trump’s signature — must return to the House for approval. Meanwhile, consumer advocacy groups, such as Public Citizen, hailed the Senate vote as a victory for public oversight and digital safety.
