Little Rock, Arkansas – In a decisive move earlier today, the United States Senate voted overwhelmingly – 99-1 – to remove the controversial artificial intelligence (AI) regulatory moratorium from the much-discussed One, Big, Beautiful Bill. This pivotal decision marks a significant victory for state leaders, most notably Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who has been a vocal advocate for AI regulations that protect citizens from the unchecked use of this rapidly advancing technology.
Governor Sanders, who had lobbied for the removal of the moratorium, expressed her approval and relief following the vote. “This is a monumental win for state leaders, President Trump’s One, Big, Beautiful Bill, and the American people. We will now be able to protect our kids from the harms of completely unregulated AI. I want to give a special thank you to Senator Marsha Blackburn for her leadership in getting this vote through,” Sanders said in a statement. The vote’s outcome is seen as a major step forward in ensuring states retain the right to regulate AI within their borders, preventing a blanket federal moratorium that would have delayed state-level AI protections for a decade.
The legislative battle came to a head after an editorial by Governor Sanders appeared in The Washington Post last week. Titled “America Can’t Wait 10 Years to Regulate AI,” the op-ed laid out the dangers of inaction, stressing how states have already begun implementing effective AI protections. Sanders warned that the proposed 10-year moratorium on AI regulation would hinder efforts to safeguard citizens, especially vulnerable groups like children. She argued that AI has already begun to influence many facets of daily life and that the longer Congress waits to act, the more difficult it will be to mitigate its potential harms.
Governor Sanders was not alone in her call for swift action. She led a coalition of 17 Republican governors who signed a letter to Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson. The letter, sent just days before the vote, urged lawmakers to remove the AI regulatory moratorium and highlighted various state-level initiatives designed to address the challenges posed by AI. These state regulations aim to protect citizens from the misuse of AI technologies, ensuring that their rights are upheld as technology evolves.
In Arkansas, Governor Sanders has already made strides in AI regulation. Earlier this year, she signed three significant pieces of legislation aimed at addressing the impact of AI. Act 927, which focuses on AI-related intellectual property protections, ensures that Arkansas residents’ creations are safeguarded in the realm of artificial intelligence. Act 159 specifically targets the nonconsensual use of individuals’ images and likenesses in AI applications, a growing concern in the age of deepfakes. Additionally, Act 977 expands Arkansas’ laws regarding child sexual abuse materials to include content created through AI, reflecting the increasing urgency to adapt legal frameworks to the evolving technological landscape.
With the removal of the AI regulatory moratorium from the One, Big, Beautiful Bill, these laws will now go into effect without obstruction from federal mandates. Governor Sanders emphasized the importance of allowing states to move forward with their own protections, pointing to the success of state-level initiatives like those in Arkansas as proof that local governments are capable of implementing effective regulations.
Looking ahead, the next steps will focus on monitoring the continued development of AI technologies and ensuring that regulations keep pace with their advancement. Governor Sanders and other state leaders remain committed to pushing for thoughtful, proactive measures that strike a balance between innovation and accountability.
For Sanders, the fight is far from over. She remains dedicated to ensuring that AI regulations continue to evolve in a way that benefits citizens, particularly those most at risk. “This is a victory, but our work is not done,” she said. “We will continue to advocate for policies that protect our children, our communities, and our freedoms in the face of rapid technological change.”
The removal of the AI moratorium is seen as a crucial step in the ongoing debate over how to regulate artificial intelligence, and Governor Sanders’ leadership is expected to continue shaping the future of AI policy in the United States. With the support of fellow state leaders and lawmakers, she has set the stage for more comprehensive and locally driven AI regulations, ensuring that the needs of communities are prioritized in the face of this emerging technology.
