The US Senate has voted nearly unanimously to remove a 10-year moratorium on the enforcement of state artificial intelligence regulations from Republicans’ sweeping domestic policy bill. The provision in the Senate bill would have effectively prevented states from enforcing many proposed and existing AI-related laws — including regulations around sexually explicit and political deepfakes — for the next decade.

Senators add exemptions for state laws targeting unfair or deceptive practices and child sexual abuse material.

The "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" includes billions for AI and broadband, but critics say it forces states to choose between infrastructure and regulation.