Reports indicate that the latest attempt to incorporate a prohibition on state-level AI regulation into the annual defense spending bill was unsuccessful due to opposition from both political parties.
On Tuesday, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) stated that Republican leadership intends to pursue “alternative venues” for this measure, which President Trump has endorsed, as reported by The Hill.
This initiative to prevent states from implementing their own AI regulations follows an earlier effort by GOP legislators this year to impose a decade-long pause on state AI laws within Trump’s tax and spending legislation. That earlier provision also failed amidst significant bipartisan opposition.
Tech companies in Silicon Valley have backed these proposals, contending that diverse state-level regulations would result in a fragmented and impractical regulatory landscape, potentially hindering technological advancement.
Conversely, opponents assert that the majority of state AI laws prioritize safety, transparency, and consumer safeguards. They argue that without comprehensive federal AI legislation addressing these areas, preventing states from regulating would essentially empower large technology companies without adequate oversight.
Scalise reportedly conceded that the defense bill was an inappropriate vehicle for this provision, reiterating Trump’s earlier suggestions to introduce the ban as standalone legislation. A leaked draft executive order indicates Trump’s contemplation of unilateral action, though these efforts are said to be currently on hold.