”AI companies are training their models on stolen material, period,” said Hawley. “We’re not talking about these companies simply scouring the internet for what’s publicly available. We’re talking about piracy.”

Lawmakers voted 99-1 to strike the ban from the bill by adopting an amendment offered by Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA).

Republican leaders revised the proposed 10-year moratorium on state AI laws on Sunday night, prior to opening debate on the Senate floor Monday morning.

A clause in the budget bill would deny all 50 states the ability to enforce any laws around artificial intelligence for a period of ten years. The proposal would have catastrophic consequences for innovation, consumer safety, and American security.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) unveiled a proposal to tie federal broadband funding to a 10-year moratorium on state AI laws.

The big budget bill currently moving on Capitol Hill contains a clause that would nullify all state laws around artificial intelligence for the next ten years.

In an open letter released this morning, 260 state legislators say the 10-year ban on state AI laws, hidden in the big budget bill, would silence critically needed discussions around AI policy.

In a rare show of bipartisan support, the House approved the bill with a resounding 409-2 vote.