Democrats prepare wave of AI laws for January 2027

The Democrats are preparing a series of laws on artificial intelligence and data centres for January 2027, when they will take control of the US Congress, lawmakers, congressional aides and activists cited by TimesLIVE reported. The texts will cover consumer protection against rising electricity bills linked to data centres, independent testing of advanced AI systems and the conditions under which AI companies can be held liable for damage caused by their products.

Senator Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat expected to become majority leader, said on Thursday in Washington that protecting consumers from the rise in energy costs linked to the rapid expansion of data centres would be among his priorities next year. Representative Lori Trahan of Massachusetts, one of the leading Democratic voices on AI policy, wants a law passed entrusting independent experts with assessing large AI models against safety standards, according to her deputy chief of staff Francis Grubar.

Representative Greg Casar, a Texas Democrat and chairman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said this week that AI leaders should testify under oath. Any law will face strong resistance while Donald Trump is in the White House, as he has repeatedly dismissed the idea of binding rules for AI. Control of congressional committees would, however, give the Democrats a platform to advance their proposals. Tech stocks fell sharply on Thursday, amid fears that the new Congress will slow AI development and that the sector's massive investments will not pay off enough.

The announcement comes the day after the Democratic victory in the midterm elections, which gave them control of both chambers against Trump, and as Hakeem Jeffries could preside over the US House in January 2027.