Senate Commerce Eyes July 29 Kids-Safety and AI Markup as State-Law Preemption Talks Continue

The committee has not published a final bill list, and the scope of any federal preemption proposal remains unclear.

The Senate Commerce Committee is reportedly preparing to mark up a package of children’s online-safety and artificial intelligence legislation on July 29.

The final agenda and bill text have not been made public. But White House talks with Republican Senate leaders have focused on a possible agreement pairing kids-safety and AI measures with preemption of certain state AI laws.

Sens. Ted Cruz and Marsha Blackburn recently met with White House officials, including President Trump, to discuss the package. Public reporting has provided little detail about the measures that may reach the committee or the potential reach of any state-law preemption provision.

Bills that could be considered include the Kids Online Safety Act, or KOSA, and the Children’s Health, Advancement, Trust, Boundaries, and Oversight in Technology Act of 2026, known as the CHATBOT Act. Neither has been confirmed for the July 29 markup.

KOSA has drawn criticism over its duty-of-care approach, age-verification incentives, and potential effects on privacy and free expression. Critics also argue that the bill could disproportionately affect LGBTQ people, people with disabilities, and other marginalized groups.

The CHATBOT Act would address minors’ access to generative AI systems. It would require parent-managed accounts for users under 13, while raising concerns about age verification, privacy protections, and access to AI systems without undue burdens on constitutional rights.

For companies, the unresolved preemption question remains the most consequential issue. A federal provision could limit state authority over some AI requirements, but its effect would depend on legislative language that has not been released.

Until Congress adopts enforceable federal legislation, state AI requirements remain in force. The July 29 markup could provide the first clearer indication of whether Senate negotiators intend to address state AI laws as part of a broader kids-safety and AI package.