The White House is negotiating federal legislation that would block state AI laws, bundling the move with child safety measures in an effort to win backing from key congressional Republicans.
Senator Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee is leading the talks on behalf of the White House. The package under discussion includes the Senate version of the Kids Online Safety Act, the NO FAKES Act targeting deepfakes, and age verification requirements, according to a Blackburn spokesperson.
The deal represents a shift in strategy for the Trump administration, which faced significant pushback during its previous attempt to preempt state regulations. Blackburn's participation is viewed as critical to getting the votes needed for passage. A White House official confirmed the talks, saying the administration continues to engage with Congress and industry partners.
The emerging package is distinct from a bipartisan proposal by Representatives Jay Obernolte of California and Lori Trahan of Massachusetts. That earlier bill would have preempted state AI laws for three years, created a Center for AI Standards and Innovation, and required certain developers to test their models before release. The Obernolte-Trahan approach has lost momentum in favor of the Blackburn-led negotiations.
A Blackburn spokesperson emphasized that the current proposal is not a blanket preemption of all AI regulations or child safety laws, but rather a targeted approach linking state law preemption to specific protections.
The push comes as states increasingly adopt stricter AI regulations. The momentum for federal action has intensified under pressure from tech companies seeking a uniform national standard rather than navigating a patchwork of state rules.
The White House is also meeting with AI companies this week to establish benchmarking standards for testing frontier AI models, following an executive order signed by Trump last week that introduced voluntary pre-deployment testing requirements.
Timing remains uncertain. Congressional leaders face pressure from the August recess and the election cycle, making passage of any comprehensive AI legislation difficult to achieve in the near term.
Author James Rodriguez: "Bundling preemption with child safety looks smart tactically, but don't expect state attorneys general to roll over quietly."
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