This bill establishes a temporary halt on the construction and upgrading of new artificial intelligence data centers . The moratorium would remain in effect until Congress enacts specific legislation designed to protect the public from the dangers of AI, ensure economic gains benefit workers, and address environmental and community impacts. The bill defines an artificial intelligence data center broadly, including facilities used for AI model development or operation at scale, or those exceeding certain power capacities and using advanced cooling systems. To lift the moratorium, future legislation must ensure federal review and approval of AI products for safety, prevent job displacement, and guarantee wealth generated by AI is shared with the public. It also requires that any future AI data centers do not increase utility bills, exacerbate climate change, or receive government subsidies, while also creating union jobs with strong labor standards. Furthermore, the bill mandates quarterly public reports from the Secretary of Energy on existing artificial intelligence data centers, detailing their financial vehicles, energy and water usage, emissions, and labor practices, with enforcement powers including subpoenas and inspections. Finally, it imposes export controls on computing infrastructure hardware, such as semiconductors and integrated circuits, to countries that do not have comparable AI safeguard laws in place.
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Timeline
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Artificial Intelligence Data Center Moratorium Act
USA119th CongressS-4214| Senate
| Updated: 3/25/2026
This bill establishes a temporary halt on the construction and upgrading of new artificial intelligence data centers . The moratorium would remain in effect until Congress enacts specific legislation designed to protect the public from the dangers of AI, ensure economic gains benefit workers, and address environmental and community impacts. The bill defines an artificial intelligence data center broadly, including facilities used for AI model development or operation at scale, or those exceeding certain power capacities and using advanced cooling systems. To lift the moratorium, future legislation must ensure federal review and approval of AI products for safety, prevent job displacement, and guarantee wealth generated by AI is shared with the public. It also requires that any future AI data centers do not increase utility bills, exacerbate climate change, or receive government subsidies, while also creating union jobs with strong labor standards. Furthermore, the bill mandates quarterly public reports from the Secretary of Energy on existing artificial intelligence data centers, detailing their financial vehicles, energy and water usage, emissions, and labor practices, with enforcement powers including subpoenas and inspections. Finally, it imposes export controls on computing infrastructure hardware, such as semiconductors and integrated circuits, to countries that do not have comparable AI safeguard laws in place.