Statement by Common Sense Media's Founder and CEO Jim Steyer on the latest Senate plan to ban states from regulating AI

WASHINGTON, DC June 30, 2025 — In response to the revised language in the budget reconciliation bill related state AI regulation, Common Sense Media Founder and CEO James P. Steyer issued the following statement:

"Common Sense Media believes the revised language offered by Sens. Blackburn and Cruz to ban AI state law enforcement, which was developed without our input and released late last night, is intended to roll back the significant progress states have made to protect kids' well-being from social media and AI. We strongly oppose the amendment and urge Senators to reject this part of the budget reconciliation bill.

"We have worked closely with the amendment's authors for years on national kids' online safety protections — a goal that remains a priority but also elusive — and we look forward to continuing to work together. This amendment would undermine those very efforts and should be rejected.

"Banning states from enforcing AI safety laws is overwhelmingly unpopular, including with state lawmakers and state attorneys general of both parties, civil society groups, individual parents and voters, and even some Republican U.S. Senators. The new amendment appears to disregard this substantial opposition and what we're fighting for: building the digital future our kids deserve."