Senate Majority Leader John Thune sounded supportive Thursday of the House-passed 10-year moratorium on enforcing state and local artificial intelligence laws, but conceded it remained an open question if it would comply with the chamber’s 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.”
Still, when asked whether the moratorium would comply with the chamber’s Byrd rule, which blocks anything but budgetary issues from inclusion in reconciliation, Thune said: “We’ll see.”
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.).
Democrats, led by Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), have vowed to challenge the provision as the legislation advances. House Speaker Mike Johnson has defended it.
