Democrats prepare a wave of AI and data center legislation for when they retake control of Congress

According to Reuters (byline Courtney Rozen, November 6, 2026), Democrats plan to introduce a flood of bills on artificial intelligence systems and data center development when they take control of the U.S. Congress in January, according to lawmakers, congressional aides and advocates.

That would mark a sharp shift from the Republican-led Congress, which focused mainly on promoting AI development and passed no laws restricting aspects of the technology, at a time when voters have turned against the rapid buildout of data centers and their enormous energy needs.

The planned initiatives include protecting consumers from data center-driven increases in electricity prices, requiring independent testing of advanced AI systems and clarifying when AI companies can be held liable for harms caused by their products.

The article stresses that any legislation would face long odds while Donald Trump remains in the White House, as he has repeatedly rejected calls for mandatory AI rules. Even so, lawmakers and advocates argue that controlling committees would give the party a platform to advance proposals, compel industry leaders to testify and build support for action if AI systems cause real-world harm. Rep. Greg Casar, chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, already said this week that AI executives should testify under oath.

Federal restrictions could hurt the industry's profits if they slow the release of new models or force changes to how tools work in order to address concerns about harm to people. According to Reuters, tech stocks fell sharply on Thursday on fears that the new Congress would slow AI development, but also on doubts that massive capital spending on AI infrastructure will generate sufficient returns.

Sen. Chuck Schumer, who is expected to become majority leader, said on Thursday that protecting consumers from higher energy costs tied to data center expansion will be one of his priorities next year. Rep. Lori Trahan of Massachusetts, one of the leading Democratic voices on AI policy, will push legislation requiring independent experts to evaluate leading models against safety standards, according to her deputy chief of staff, Francis Grubar, and will also seek to clarify companies' liability when their systems behave harmfully.

Rep. Zoe Lofgren of California, who is seeking to chair the House Science Committee, said Democrats will focus on developing "responsible regulations for AI while also fostering innovation." Abdul El-Sayed, a Michigan Democrat who won a Senate seat, called during his campaign for an independent agency with the power to oversee companies developing AI.

Public concern is already high: a Reuters poll published in October found that most voters believe the Trump administration and Congress are not taking AI risks seriously enough and want new regulations.

Ed Mills of Raymond James believes a crisis could generate enough support to overcome presidential opposition, saying that "the probability of legislation is much higher than people anticipate." Congress can override a veto with the backing of two-thirds of both chambers, and Democrats could try to attach AI rules to routine must-pass annual legislation.

Finally, Democrats intend to use their new authority to step up scrutiny of the industry's most powerful companies, such as OpenAI and Anthropic. In October, Lofgren and other Democratic leaders of House committees asked OpenAI, Anthropic, Meta, Google (Alphabet) and SpaceX to detail their safety practices and report instances in which their AI tools took actions not intended by their designers.