House Adjourns, Delaying AI Regulation Until After November Midterms

According to CNBC, the House of Representatives adjourned Wednesday, pushing off action on artificial intelligence regulation until after November's midterm election. House Speaker Mike Johnson said it was time for members to return to their districts, while lawmakers including Rep. Sam Liccardo, D-Calif., pressed for immediate action on AI safety measures. Liccardo said Congress should move on the bipartisan Frontier Act, which would require third-party audits of AI labs, add transparency rules, and let the Commerce Department suspend or restrict a model if it poses an imminent catastrophic risk. He also urged consideration of a kill switch provision for runaway AI systems and a narrow antitrust exemption for top AI companies to cooperate on safety. Rep. Jay Obernolte, R-Calif., said the urgency of the moment requires congressional action before year-end and said he will push the Frontier Act and the Great American Artificial Intelligence Act when the House returns. Senate Commerce Committee Chair Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said an AI safety bill could be voted on in committee by the end of this month, though bipartisan agreement remains uncertain.