Senate Majority Leader John Thune expressed cautious support for a House-passed 10-year moratorium on state and local artificial intelligence laws, acknowledging the uncertainty surrounding its compliance with Senate rules. “That issue got fairly carefully litigated in the House,” Thune said in response to a question from POLITICO. “The goal is to make sure that we aren’t losing the race in AI and making sure that we have a policy that’s consistent.”
Thune’s measured support for the state AI law freeze was his first comment on the provision that has triggered opposition from some Republicans, including Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), as well as Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.). Despite this, Thune remained noncommittal on whether the moratorium would comply with the chamber’s Byrd rule, which blocks anything but budgetary issues from inclusion in reconciliation. “We’ll see,” Thune said when asked directly about the matter.
Meanwhile, Democrats, led by Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), have vowed to challenge the provision as the legislation advances. House Speaker Mike Johnson has defended the measure, underscoring the political divide over AI regulation. The ongoing debate reflects the broader struggle between legislative priorities and the need for unified policy in an emerging technological landscape.