White House, Blackburn relaunch state-AI-law preemption push tied to KOSA, NO FAKES Act and age verification

The White House and Senate Republicans have relaunched negotiations to federally preempt state artificial-intelligence laws, Axios reported June 8, pairing the tech industry's top legislative priority with child-safety measures to attract broader support. Sen.

Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) is spearheading talks with the White House to finalize legislative text for an AI preemption package that includes the Senate version of the Kids Online Safety Act, the NO FAKES Act protecting artists from AI impersonation, and age-verification requirements. The Hill confirmed the negotiations on June 9, reporting the package would pursue 'subject-matter preemption' of specific categories of state AI regulation rather than a blanket override of all state AI and kids-safety laws, and would deliver 'protections for kids, creators, and communities.' The effort revives a preemption push that stalled earlier in 2026 after the White House's national AI policy framework, which put federal preemption at the center of the debate, drew opposition from states and AI-safety advocates.

Negotiators face a narrowing window before the August recess in a midterm election year, with the Senate and House not yet aligned on a path forward and intraparty disputes unresolved alongside fierce pushback from AI-safety groups.