Proposed Moratorium on State AI Enforcement Faces Uncertain Future Despite Senate Changes

Matt Shapanka’s commentary was included in a Lexology Pro article examining the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation’s modification of a proposed 10-year ban on states enforcing their AI laws. Matt discusses the political challenges around the proposal, which blocks states’ access to federal funds if they enforce their AI laws, a deviation from a measure that passed the U.S. House in May 2025.

“It seems like the modifications the Senate made may be an attempt to address potential concerns with the procedural aspects of the House version,” Matt said. He added, “It’s not clear whether either version of the bill will pass muster in the Senate.”

“In general, I know there is some reluctance to change too much, but on a provision that has this bipartisan opposition, it can lead to some horse trading that results in it being left out or horse trading that it’s [left] in,” Matt noted.