In this episode, we break down the little-known but sweeping amendment buried in the Senate version of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) being debated this week. The amendment--which is now characterized as a "temporary pause" to make the 10 years seem trivial--would block states, cities, and even school districts from regulating artificial intelligence for ten years—if they accept federal broadband funding. Framed deceptively as a "temporary pause," this provision threatens hard-fought protections like Tennessee’s ELVIS Act and local school oversight rules while giving Big Tech a free pass to grow unregulated.

We explore the constitutional challenges, the state-level opposition, and how the amendment functions as a regulatory Trojan horse—allowing only pro-AI laws while forbidding anything that might slow it down, no matter the cost to artists, educators, and consumers.

Reading Materials:

“Temporary” Tyranny: Senate is Voting on The 10-Year AI Moratorium That Silences States and Artists

AI Moratorium in Senate Version of One Big Beautiful Bill Act

Governors Letter Opposing AI Safe Harbor Moratorium

🔍 In This Episode:

Why the "pause" on AI regulation is anything but temporary
How federal broadband dollars are being weaponized to suppress state and local laws
The threat to the Tennessee ELVIS Act and biometric protections
The legal case against the moratorium: Spending Clause, Tenth Amendment, Equal Protection
How public schools could lose the power to control AI in classrooms
The growing bipartisan resistance from state AGs, governors, and legislators

📚 Referenced Laws & Cases:

Tennessee ELVIS Act (2024)
Illinois BIPA, California Deepfake Law, and others
NFIB v. Sebelius – Spending Clause precedent
Printz v. United States, Murphy v. NCAA – Tenth Amendment
Equal Protection & Due Process Clause applications

#AIMoratorium #BigBeautifulBill #StateRights #ELVISAct #ArtistRights #EducationPolicy #BroadbandFunding #FederalOverreach #ConstitutionalLaw #SpendingClause #10thAmendment #BiometricPrivacy #Deepfakes #StudentPrivacy #StopThePause #BigTechAccountability #AIRegulation #LocalControl #CreatorsRights #MusicIndustry

The information provided in this video is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or a solicitation for legal services. The views and opinions expressed are those of the moderators and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of any organization or legal entity. If you need legal advice, please consult with a qualified attorney. Copyright 2025, Artist Rights Institute. All Rights Reserved. Neither this video nor any transcript may be used for text or data mining or for the purpose of training artificial intelligence models or systems. Subject to Terms of Service at

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S4E10: The AI Moratorium Lives on in Senate Big Beautiful Bill