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Senate Commerce Chair Signals Kids Online Safety Bill to Come Up for Review, but Senate Support Uncertain
In a surprising turn inside the Oval Office, Senate Commerce Committee Chair Ted Cruz announced that a kids‑online‑safety proposal introduced by Tennessee Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn will be placed on the committee’s agenda for the upcoming markup of artificial‑intelligence legislation. The move follows a meeting in which Blackburn presented a package that could pair her signature Kids Online Safety Act with provisions designed to pre‑empt state AI laws.
Cruz said he would expect to support Blackburn’s bill, but he also expressed doubt that the measure would secure the 60 votes needed for passage in the full Senate. “It’s not clear to me at all that there are 60 votes for it,” he told reporters. “But I am happy to have a markup and see where the votes are.” His comment underscores the committee’s uncertainty about the bill’s prospects.
Blackburn’s package, which has not yet been introduced, is expected to include the NO FAKES Act—proposed federal legislation that would restrict the creation of AI deepfakes—and the Apps Store Accountability Act, which would require parental consent before minors download apps. According to an anonymous source who reviewed private negotiations, the package also contains provisions that would pre‑empt state laws regulating AI.
The meeting with President Trump did not result in a commitment from the president to endorse the package. While the administration has expressed interest in regulating AI, it has not yet signaled support for Blackburn’s specific proposals.
The Senate Commerce Committee must publish an advisory a week before a markup. If the upcoming markup is scheduled for July 29, the advisory would be due on Wednesday, July 22. The committee’s rules allow the lineup to change on the day of the meeting, but the advisory provides a preview of the agenda.
Democratic staffers on the committee said they had not seen the final agenda but noted that changes can happen within 24 hours. Republican members also reported limited visibility. Sen. John Curtis of Utah, who recently introduced a bipartisan bill targeting AI chatbots, said he had not spoken to the chair and did not know what would be on the agenda. Sen. Todd Young of Indiana, another committee member working on AI legislation, also said he had not heard what was scheduled.
Blackburn’s statement on Monday night pledged to continue building consensus to move her legislation "by the end of the year." The senator’s spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.
The Kids Online Safety Act, first introduced in 2022, seeks to establish a duty of care for online platforms and to limit features that are deemed addictive to minors. The bill has bipartisan support but has faced criticism from both sides of the political spectrum. Critics argue that it could enable censorship of content related to marginalized groups, while supporters contend that it is necessary to protect children from harmful material.
The NO FAKES Act, which would create a federal right of publicity for digital likenesses, has garnered support from entertainment and technology industries but has also raised concerns about potential impacts on free speech.
The Apps Store Accountability Act would add a layer of parental oversight to app downloads, aiming to reduce minors’ exposure to potentially harmful applications.
The Senate’s decision to bring Blackburn’s package to a markup reflects the growing focus on AI regulation and child protection in the legislative agenda. However, the lack of clear support and the uncertainty about the number of votes required suggest that the bill faces a challenging path to passage.
As the committee prepares for the July 29 markup, stakeholders will watch closely to see whether the package can secure the necessary backing. The outcome will have implications for the future of AI regulation, online safety for minors, and the balance between federal and state authority over digital technologies.
The Senate’s handling of these proposals will also influence how the Trump administration approaches AI policy and whether it will endorse or modify the measures presented by Blackburn.
In the coming weeks, the committee’s agenda and the final content of Blackburn’s package will become clearer, setting the stage for a broader debate on AI governance and child protection in the United States.
Cruz said he would expect to support Blackburn’s bill, but he also expressed doubt that the measure would secure the 60 votes needed for passage in the full Senate. “It’s not clear to me at all that there are 60 votes for it,” he told reporters. “But I am happy to have a markup and see where the votes are.” His comment underscores the committee’s uncertainty about the bill’s prospects.
Blackburn’s package, which has not yet been introduced, is expected to include the NO FAKES Act—proposed federal legislation that would restrict the creation of AI deepfakes—and the Apps Store Accountability Act, which would require parental consent before minors download apps. According to an anonymous source who reviewed private negotiations, the package also contains provisions that would pre‑empt state laws regulating AI.
The meeting with President Trump did not result in a commitment from the president to endorse the package. While the administration has expressed interest in regulating AI, it has not yet signaled support for Blackburn’s specific proposals.
The Senate Commerce Committee must publish an advisory a week before a markup. If the upcoming markup is scheduled for July 29, the advisory would be due on Wednesday, July 22. The committee’s rules allow the lineup to change on the day of the meeting, but the advisory provides a preview of the agenda.
Democratic staffers on the committee said they had not seen the final agenda but noted that changes can happen within 24 hours. Republican members also reported limited visibility. Sen. John Curtis of Utah, who recently introduced a bipartisan bill targeting AI chatbots, said he had not spoken to the chair and did not know what would be on the agenda. Sen. Todd Young of Indiana, another committee member working on AI legislation, also said he had not heard what was scheduled.
Blackburn’s statement on Monday night pledged to continue building consensus to move her legislation "by the end of the year." The senator’s spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.
The Kids Online Safety Act, first introduced in 2022, seeks to establish a duty of care for online platforms and to limit features that are deemed addictive to minors. The bill has bipartisan support but has faced criticism from both sides of the political spectrum. Critics argue that it could enable censorship of content related to marginalized groups, while supporters contend that it is necessary to protect children from harmful material.
The NO FAKES Act, which would create a federal right of publicity for digital likenesses, has garnered support from entertainment and technology industries but has also raised concerns about potential impacts on free speech.
The Apps Store Accountability Act would add a layer of parental oversight to app downloads, aiming to reduce minors’ exposure to potentially harmful applications.
The Senate’s decision to bring Blackburn’s package to a markup reflects the growing focus on AI regulation and child protection in the legislative agenda. However, the lack of clear support and the uncertainty about the number of votes required suggest that the bill faces a challenging path to passage.
As the committee prepares for the July 29 markup, stakeholders will watch closely to see whether the package can secure the necessary backing. The outcome will have implications for the future of AI regulation, online safety for minors, and the balance between federal and state authority over digital technologies.
The Senate’s handling of these proposals will also influence how the Trump administration approaches AI policy and whether it will endorse or modify the measures presented by Blackburn.
In the coming weeks, the committee’s agenda and the final content of Blackburn’s package will become clearer, setting the stage for a broader debate on AI governance and child protection in the United States.
