Multiple Governors Oppose AI Regulation Moratorium in Trump Budget Bill

A provision in President Donald Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill' would impose a 10-year moratorium on state-level regulation of artificial intelligence (AI), sparking opposition from numerous Republican governors, lawmakers, and attorneys general. Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, along with 17 other Republican governors, has called on Congress to remove this provision, arguing it strips states' rights and undermines federalism by preventing states from enacting necessary AI safety and fairness rules. Tennessee U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn and Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, joined by Washington Democratic counterparts, have also opposed the moratorium, emphasizing its sweeping negative impact on existing and pending state AI laws. Utah lawmakers, including Gov. Spencer Cox, have expressed concern that the provision jeopardizes state broadband funding if AI regulations are enforced, highlighting tensions between state priorities and the federal bill. Critics warn that the moratorium could leave states unable to address evolving AI challenges, such as protecting against abusive content and regulating AI's societal impacts, while supporters in Congress push to pass the bill by a July 4 deadline. The controversy reflects broader debates over the balance of power between federal authority and states' rights in managing emerging technologies.