Hundreds of state lawmakers, both Republican and Democratic, are calling on Congress to reject a national defense bill provision that would strip their powers over artificial intelligence.
The provision, which would preempt existing state laws that regulate AI, is part of the National Defense Authorization Act. In a letter dated Tuesday, the bipartisan group of more than 200 state legislators urged lawmakers in both the House and the Senate to allow states to regulate AI, or risk “setting back progress.”
“A blanket prohibition on state and local AI and automated decision-system regulation would abruptly cut off active democratic debate in statehouses and impose a sweeping pause on policymaking at the very moment when communities are seeking responsive solutions,” the state lawmakers wrote.
Meanwhile
Colorado is pumping the brakes on first-of-its-kind AI regulation to find a practical path forward
When the Colorado Artificial Intelligence Act passed in May 2024, it made national headlines. The law was the first of its kind in the U.S. It was a comprehensive attempt to govern “high-risk” artificial intelligence systems across various industries before they could cause real-world harm.
Gov. Jared Polis signed it reluctantly—but now, less than a year later, the governor is supporting a federal pause on state-level AI laws. Colorado lawmakers have delayed the law’s enactment to June 2026 and are seeking to repeal and replace portions of it.
Lawmakers face pressure from the tech industry, lobbyists and the practicalities related to the cost of implementation.
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