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Lawmakers debate AI and safety bills as Yeager alleges tech lobbyists misled colleagues about White House stance
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Summary
During floor consideration of SB1493 and related AI/child-safety legislation, Senator Yeager accused lobbyists for Amazon, Meta and Microsoft of telling legislators the White House opposed a child-safety bill — a claim he labeled false — while other senators debated whether to send proposals to the AI council or a study committee.
NASHVILLE — Floor debate on Senate Bill 1493 and related measures about technology and public safety included a sharp accusation from Senator Yeager that lobbyists for major technology firms misled legislators about the White House’s position on a related measure.
Senator Yeager told the chamber a House member had claimed Yeager told colleagues that the White House opposed Senate Bill 2171; Yeager denied that and said, "If the members want to know... who misrepresented the White House position on this bill, the answer is in the lobbyists for Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft." He said three large companies had told legislators something untrue about the matter of child safety and the bill.
Other senators debated the proper forum for further work on AI and related child-safety issues. Senator Watson and others said they would have preferred the AI council handle some of the review; proponents of the House amendment argued referring the matter to TASSR (a study committee referenced on the floor) could keep the conversation moving while preserving legislative options for next session.
Senator Massey, who moved concurrence on the house amendment to SB1493, said the amendment would send the subject to a study and that he preferred keeping momentum toward a legislative outcome. After discussion and deference to the bill authors, the Senate passed the concurrence motion and approved the amended bill for the chamber.
