In the face of growing AI harms, state lawmakers must retain authority
On Monday, a bipartisan coalition of over 290 state lawmakers from across the country urged Congress to oppose the inclusion of any preemption language in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would curtail ongoing state efforts to address the impacts of artificial intelligence. Today’s letter follows news last week that House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) was attempting to include legislation preempting state AI laws in the NDAA. Earlier in the year, a similar measure attached to the Big Beautiful Bill failed in the Senate in a 99-1 vote.
Read the full letter from state lawmakers.
From today’s letter:
“As state lawmakers and policymakers, we hear regularly from constituents about rising online harms and the growing influence of AI on their lives. In an increasingly fraught digital environment, young people face new risks online, seniors are increasingly targeted by AI-enabled scams, and workers and creators are encountering novel challenges in an AI-driven economy. In the years ahead, AI’s impact will require lawmakers to consider consequential public policy questions, making it essential that states retain the authority to act.”
Lawmakers from across the political spectrum signed onto the letter, including 176 Democrats, 103 Republicans, and one Independent. The letter includes signers from 43 states across the country.
For a live tracker of lawmakers and thought leaders speaking out against the AI law preemption proposal, visit NoAILawBan.org.
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Americans for Responsible Innovation (ARI) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to policy advocacy in the public interest, focused on emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI). Learn more at ARI.us.