Illustration: Annelise Capossela/Axios
The House Energy and Commerce committee approved its reconciliation text overnight Wednesday, including the communications subtitle with a number of tech and telecom provisions.
Why it matters: Republicans were able to push through tech policy priorities that are normally a heavy lift to pass on their own.
Driving the news: The committee approved the communications section by a 29-24 vote. As we previously reported:
- The bill reauthorizes the FCC's spectrum auction authority for 10 years.
Commerce tech upgrades: The bill would invest in modernizing IT systems for the Department of Commerce and using more AI tools for "secure and effective systems," per the summary.
- The bill text appropriates $500 million for this project, including for deploying commercial AI and the replacement of antiquated systems.
State AI law pre-emption: The bill's most eyebrow-raising provision is a pre-emption on state-level AI bills for 10 years, which has already received massive pushback from civil society groups and Democrats.
- "No state or political subdivision thereof may enforce any law or regulation regulating artificial intelligence models, systems or automated decisions systems during the 10-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act," the bill text reads.
- Rep. Jay Obernolte defended the provision during the marathon markup session, saying state pre-emption of AI bills would protect smaller entrepreneurs who can't afford to comply with different state regulations.
