Senate Commerce Chair Ted Cruz has committed to placing Senator Marsha Blackburn’s online safety proposal for children on the agenda for the upcoming markup session on artificial intelligence legislation. This decision comes even as former President Donald Trump has yet to formally endorse the bill.

While Cruz expressed support for Blackburn's initiative, he voiced concerns about its viability in the Senate. “It's not clear to me at all that there are 60 votes for it,” he stated, indicating uncertainty about the bill passing the full Senate despite his willingness to see it through the markup process.

Blackburn, a Republican from Tennessee, has been actively working to build consensus around her legislation, aiming to pass it by the year's end. Her package is expected to include the Kids Online Safety Act, which could be paired with provisions to override state AI laws, potentially increasing its appeal to the Trump administration.

Additionally, the package might feature the NO FAKES Act, targeting AI-generated deepfakes, and the Apps Store Accountability Act, which would mandate parental consent for minors downloading apps. These details were shared by an anonymous source familiar with the private negotiations.

During a recent meeting at the White House, where Blackburn presented her proposal to Trump, Cruz reportedly expressed doubts about the bill's prospects in the Senate. Trump, on his part, did not commit his support.

The bill's introduction is anticipated before the Senate Commerce markup, scheduled tentatively for July 29. However, the final agenda for the markup, which must be published at least a week in advance per committee rules, had not been seen by committee members from either party as of late Tuesday. Changes could still be made on the day of the markup, leaving room for adjustments.

As discussions continue and the markup date approaches, members of the Commerce Committee, including Senators John Curtis and Todd Young, expressed that they were largely unaware of the potential agenda items. Curtis has recently introduced a bipartisan bill that proposes stricter regulations on AI chatbots, suggesting a growing legislative focus on the implications of artificial intelligence technologies.

The coming days will be crucial as Blackburn's bill either gains the momentum it needs or faces hurdles within the committee and potentially in the Senate at large. The political dynamics in Washington continue to shape the legislative landscape around technology and child safety online.