Little Rock, Arkansas – The United States Senate voted 99-1 early this morning to eliminate the artificial intelligence (AI) regulatory moratorium from the One, Big, Beautiful Bill. The move clears the way for individual states to implement their own safeguards against unchecked AI development—an outcome Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders praised as a pivotal victory for American families and state sovereignty.
States Reclaim the Power to Regulate AI
Governor Sanders hailed the Senate’s decision as a “monumental win for state leaders, President Trump’s One, Big, Beautiful Bill, and the American people.” Her statement emphasized the importance of allowing state governments to defend their citizens—especially children—from the dangers of completely unregulated AI systems.
“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,” Governor Sanders stated.
The 10-year AI regulatory moratorium, previously embedded in the sweeping federal legislation, had been criticized for tying the hands of state leaders by blocking any form of AI regulation at the state level for a decade. The provision drew strong opposition from state officials who viewed it as a threat to their ability to act quickly in response to emerging AI risks.
A United Push from Governors and Advocacy at the National Level
Just last week, Governor Sanders took a public stand on the issue in her op-ed, “America Can’t Wait 10 Years to Regulate AI,” where she outlined the dangers of delaying AI governance. In the piece, she argued that states were leading the charge with smart, forward-thinking policies that the federal government should be supporting—not suppressing.
In addition to her editorial, Governor Sanders led a coalition of 17 Republican governors in signing a joint letter addressed to Senate Majority Leader John Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson. The letter urged the removal of the 10-year moratorium and highlighted the proactive measures already taken in several states to shield residents from AI misuse.
Arkansas Laws Set to Take Effect
Thanks to the removal of the moratorium, Arkansas will now be able to enforce three critical laws passed earlier this year:
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Act 927, which introduces basic intellectual property protections for AI-generated content.
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Act 159, safeguarding individuals against the nonconsensual use of their image or likeness in AI systems.
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Act 977, which expands the state’s child se-ual abuse material laws to cover AI-generated content.
Governor Sanders has been a vocal advocate for AI regulation that reflects the values and safety needs of Arkansas families. With the federal barrier now lifted, those protections are poised to become active, marking a major advancement in the state’s ability to address AI-related threats.
As national debate around AI continues, today’s Senate decision represents a significant shift in momentum, empowering states like Arkansas to shape the future of AI with local values and immediate action.
