What does Preamble of Artificial Intelligence Data Center Moratorium Act do?

This bill imposes a moratorium on new data center construction The moratorium lasts until AI safeguard legislation is enacted The bill aims to safeguard the public from AI dangers

What does SHORT TITLE. of Artificial Intelligence Data Center Moratorium Act do?

This bill is formally titled the Artificial Intelligence Data Center Moratorium Act.

What does FINDINGS. of Artificial Intelligence Data Center Moratorium Act do?

This section outlines findings regarding potential catastrophic consequences from unchecked artificial intelligence (AI) development and deployment. Numerous leading experts and industry leaders, including Elon Musk, Dario Amodei, Demis Hassabis, Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, Mustafa Suleyman, Jim Farley, Larry Ellison, Dr. Geoffrey Hinton, and Mark Zuckerberg, have expressed concerns about AI's potential impacts. These concerns include job displacement, the creation of a surveillance state, and existential risks to humanity. Several individuals and groups have called for regulation and pauses in AI development to ensure safety and responsible integration into society. Calls for pauses range from short-term moratoriums on training more powerful AI systems to prohibitions on developing superintelligence until safety and public consensus are achieved.

What does MORATORIUM ON CONSTRUCTION OF NEW ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE DATA of Artificial Intelligence Data Center Moratorium Act do?

This section establishes a moratorium on the construction or upgrading of new or existing artificial intelligence data centers. The moratorium begins on the date of enactment of the Act and continues until specific laws are enacted and terminate it. The required laws must ensure federal review and approval of artificial intelligence products to ensure safety, privacy, and well-being. These laws must also ensure economic gains from artificial intelligence benefit workers, prevent job displacement, and share wealth. Furthermore, any data center built or upgraded after the moratorium's termination must not increase consumer utility bills, exacerbate climate change, or require government subsidies. Communities affected by data centers must be empowered to approve or reject construction/upgrading. The Secretary of Energy is required to submit quarterly reports to Congress and make them publicly available, detailing various aspects of artificial intelligence data centers. These reports must include information on financial vehicles, water and energy usage, greenhouse gas emissions, wastewater discharge, cooling chemicals, noise levels, wages, job creation, agreements, and subsidy usage.

What does EXPORT CONTROLS ON COMPUTING INFRASTRUCTURE HARDWARE. of Artificial Intelligence Data Center Moratorium Act do?

This section establishes export controls on computing infrastructure hardware. The term 'computing infrastructure hardware' includes semiconductors, integrated circuits, and products containing integrated circuits, such as computers and data storage systems. The definitions of 'export,' 'in-country transfer,' and 'reexport' are derived from section 1742 of the Export Control Reform Act of 2018. The Secretary of Commerce is required to prohibit the export, reexport, or in-country transfer of computing infrastructure hardware. These prohibitions apply to transfers to countries lacking comparable laws to those described in section 3(b)(1) of the Act. The prohibitions also apply to transfers to individuals located in those countries. The controls apply to end-uses including use in artificial intelligence data centers and the training or deployment of artificial intelligence models at scale.

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Artificial Intelligence Data Center Moratorium Act

Last updated: 3/25/2026 · Introduced: 3/25/2026

Author: Bernie Sanders (I-VT)

TL;DR (AI)

This bill imposes a moratorium on the construction or upgrading of new artificial intelligence data centers until federal laws are enacted ensuring AI product safety, worker benefits, and preventing negative impacts on consumers, climate, and communities.
The bill establishes export controls on computing infrastructure hardware, including semiconductors and computers, to prevent transfers to countries lacking comparable AI safety regulations.
The Secretary of Energy must regularly report to Congress and the public on various aspects of artificial intelligence data centers, including energy and water usage, emissions, wages, and subsidies.

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Includes provisions on preamble, short title., and 3 more.

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