Senate Strikes Down Spending Bill’s Harmful AI Provision

Clarification: SMART-Transportation Division does not endorse the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” but is supportive of a successful effort to eliminate a harmful provision that would have impacted our union’s bus operators.  
 
As the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” is anticipated to head to President Trump’s desk for his signature, we are grateful that one provision that would have been particularly harmful to our SMART-TD bus operators is no longer included. 

Free Rein on Regulating Artificial Intelligence 

The original legislation contained a measure that would have prohibited states from regulating artificial intelligence (AI) for a period of 10 years, including automated driver systems.  
 
It’s no secret: automation is already a growing threat, but this would have given big tech companies even more leeway to operate unchecked and with limited accountability.  
 
Bottom line: including this provision would have made a bad situation worse.  

TD Members Directly at Risk

Our bus drivers and operators would have been directly impacted by this dangerous proposal, with their jobs and livelihoods at serious risk.  
 
There’s NO substitute for a human operator, and this proposal stood to replace skilled workers with robots and machines that can’t function with the precise skill and expertise that’s needed to perform this work, especially in the event of an emergency. 
 
While we are disappointed that more lawmakers did not stand up for their constituents and stop this harmful bill from becoming law, we’re grateful that the Senate took the important step of removing the AI provision before it moved any further through the legislative process.  

What’s Next 

We’d like to extend a sincere thank you to all members who took the time to reach out to their lawmakers this week to let them know how this bill will impact them and their families.  
 
Rest assured that your efforts did not go unnoticed. 
 
SMART-TD will continue fighting to ensure that our members and their jobs are protected from the very real threats posed by AI 
 
It’s clear that our collective voice accomplishes great things, but the work is not over.  
 
Whether at the local or federal level, keep speaking up and keep contacting your elected officials.  
 
Your input and our strength make a difference, and the fight is just beginning.