Congress lacks time, consensus for AI regulation this year

The House adjourned on September 17 without advancing a single major AI bill. Lawmakers won’t reconvene until after the November midterm elections, effectively killing any chance of comprehensive AI regulation reaching the president’s desk this year. A bipartisan problem with no bipartisan solution The Senate isn’t faring much better. Bipartisan negotiations within the Commerce Committee are technically ongoing, but key senators have described the state of talks as “not there yet.” Democrats generally want stronger guardrails around AI safety and transparency. Republicans, led by House Speaker Mike Johnson, worry that heavy-handed regulation could hamstring American companies in their race against Chinese competitors. President Trump dismissed existential-risk warnings from AI researchers as a “hoax” during September 2026, aligning himself with industry voices who argue that slowing down development would be a strategic gift to adversaries. The result is a Congress that has managed to enact exactly one standalone AI-related law: the Take It Down Act, which targets non-consensual deepfakes. 85 recommendations, limited follow-through A bipartisan congressional task force issued 85 re...