State Attorneys Say Proposed GOP AI Regulation Ban Is Risky For Consumers

A Republican proposal to bar states from regulating artificial intelligence (AI) for 10 years has drawn sharp criticism from a bipartisan coalition of state attorneys general, Jody Godoy reported for Reuters.

Multiple bills passed in California targeting specific uses of AI exemplified the type of state-level actions that would be nullified under the proposed federal moratorium.

The controversial provision, tucked into President Donald Trump’s tax cut bill, would override recently enacted AI laws in dozens of states.

Recently, a group of 40 attorneys general—including Republicans from Ohio, Tennessee, Arkansas, Utah, and Virginia—urged Congress to reject the measure as the House Budget Committee prepared for a Sunday night hearing.

“Imposing a broad moratorium on all state action, while Congress fails to act in this area, is irresponsible and deprives consumers of reasonable protections,” the attorneys general said in a joint letter.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta, a Democrat, added: “I strongly oppose any effort to block states from developing and enforcing common-sense regulation. States must be able to protect their residents by responding to emerging and evolving AI technology.”

California has passed multiple bills this year targeting specific uses of AI, exemplifying the type of state-level actions that would be nullified under the proposed federal moratorium.