Bipartisan State Officials Oppose Federal AI Regulation Ban

A bipartisan coalition of state lawmakers and attorneys general is opposing a proposed 10-year federal moratorium that would block states from regulating artificial intelligence. The moratorium, attached to a congressional budget resolution, aims to create a uniform federal framework to prevent a patchwork of state AI regulations, which proponents argue could stifle innovation and burden companies. However, critics—including representatives from California, New York, Ohio, and other states—argue the proposal threatens citizen safety, undermines state sovereignty, and would hinder enforcement of existing laws against AI abuses such as deepfake scams and nonconsensual explicit imagery. California lawmakers have pointed out that the moratorium's broad definition of AI could invalidate recently passed protections against AI-generated child sexual abuse images and healthcare transparency requirements. While Congress has yet to pass comprehensive AI legislation, states with stronger political majorities have moved forward with regulations seen as crucial to managing AI risks responsibly. The debate highlights tensions between federal efforts to standardize AI regulation and states' desires to protect their residents through tailored laws.