Republicans are looking for a way to bring back the AI moratorium
House Republicans are reigniting their efforts to override state-level artificial intelligence (AI) regulations, following a previous attempt that stalled earlier this year. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) has indicated plans to incorporate provisions into the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would effectively ban state regulations on AI technologies. This move comes amid growing concerns about the competitive edge of the U.S. in the global AI landscape, particularly in relation to China. Former President Donald Trump echoed this sentiment, advocating for a unified federal standard rather than a fragmented approach across the 50 states. He emphasized the urgency of this issue on Truth Social, urging Congress to either embed this standard in the NDAA or pass a separate bill to ensure that the U.S. remains at the forefront of AI development.
The NDAA, a critical piece of legislation that lawmakers typically consider essential to pass, serves as a strategic vehicle for introducing amendments. However, the specifics of the proposed language remain uncertain, especially given that a previous version of the moratorium on state AI laws faced significant backlash, with 99 out of 100 senators opposing a proposed 10-year ban. Concerns were raised about the broad implications of such a moratorium, including its potential to undermine various tech regulations, such as those aimed at protecting children online. As both Republican and Democratic states have initiated their own AI-related laws, the potential federal preemption could nullify these local efforts, raising alarms among lawmakers about the consequences of a one-size-fits-all approach.
Supporters of the proposed moratorium, particularly from tech industry groups like NetChoice, argue that a patchwork of state regulations could stifle innovation and hinder the U.S.’s ability to compete on the global stage. As discussions continue, more details regarding the NDAA’s language are anticipated before the Thanksgiving holiday, with a vote scheduled for December. This legislative push reflects the increasing urgency among lawmakers to establish a coherent regulatory framework for AI, balancing innovation with safety and ethical considerations in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rcHCYaeEU0
House Republicans are looking to renew an effort to override state AI laws after a previous version
came to a screeching halt
earlier this year.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA)
told Punchbowl News
he’s considering adding language to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) effectively banning state AI regulations. Later on Tuesday, President Donald Trump
posted on Truth Social
urging Congress to standardize AI regulations. “We MUST have one Federal Standard instead of a patchwork of 50 State Regulatory Regimes,” he wrote. “If we don’t, then China will easily catch us in the AI race. Put it in the NDAA, or pass a separate Bill, and nobody will ever be able to compete with America.”
Tacking amendments onto the NDAA, which lawmakers consider a must-pass bill, is a common strategy to get legislation across the finish line at the end of the year. It’s not totally clear what the new language would look like considering 99 out of 100 senators ultimately turned against the version of a five-year moratorium on state AI laws that was put to a vote this summer.Â
When the issue came up earlier this year, many lawmakers expressed concern about the initial 10-year term proposed for the moratorium, and the potential that language could be so broad as to
cover a host of other tech regulations
, including kids’ online safety laws. Both red and blue states have
adopted AI-related laws
that could be effectively nullified if Congress were to vote to preempt or pause them.
Proponents of the moratorium, including
tech industry associations like NetChoice
, argued that a complicated patchwork of state regulations for an early-stage industry like AI could hamper innovation and threaten US competitiveness with China.Â
More details on the NDAA’s language are expected before the Thanksgiving holiday, with a vote on track for December,
according to
Politico
.
