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State Lawmakers

A U.S. map with a capitol dome in every state, between office towers and a federal capitol, on state AI legislation

ARI Builds 50-State Operation to Shape AI Regulation

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The nonprofit is adding12 staff members and says it will counter industry-backed proposals in state capitals.

 

Americans for Responsible Innovation is adding about 12 staff members to advocate for AI rules across all 50 states, establishing a dedicated operation to influence state legislation.

The nonprofit announced the initiative on Sept. 10 as state lawmakers weigh AI legislation nationwide. ARI said it created the operation to counter lobbying by AI companies and industry groups seeking to shape those laws.

ARI plans a permanent state presence

The new regional teams will monitor legislation and provide policy expertise to state lawmakers. ARI said it will support rules addressing risks from the most powerful AI models and potential harm to workers, children, and families.

ARI President Brad Carson said state policy “can no longer be treated as a secondary front.” He said industry groups are already investing heavily in state-level advocacy and moving quickly to shape legislation.

It described the initiative as a permanent operation covering state capitals nationwide rather than a temporary push focused on one legislative session.

State effort follows preemption fights

The initiative expands ARI’s existing federal policy and coalition work. The organization previously opposed congressional proposals that would limit states’ authority to regulate AI.

In June, ARI supported a letter from more than 200 lawmakers across 42 states opposing a provision in the proposed Great American AI Act. The lawmakers said the provision would override state AI laws without replacing them with federal protections.

The new initiative will also address ARI’s stated priorities involving data centers, advanced AI systems, workers, and child safety. Its teams will identify emerging bills, advise lawmakers, and support the safeguards the organization favors.

ARI said it would begin hiring for two positions immediately. It expects to announce additional state policy, communications, and operations roles in the coming months.

U.S. Capitol, AI chip, and state map joined by a bridge, illustrating the debate over federal preemption of state AI laws.

Over 200 State Lawmakers Urge Congress To Reject Federal AI Preemption

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More than 200 lawmakers from 42 states say Congress should not block state AI laws unless it first creates meaningful federal protections.

A bipartisan coalition of more than 200 state lawmakers from 42 states is urging Congress to remove a provision in the proposed Great American AI Act (GAAIA) that would prevent states from enforcing certain AI laws for three years, arguing the measure would eliminate existing safeguards without replacing them with a federal regulatory system.

The coalition sent a letter responding to a discussion draft of the GAAIA released earlier this month by Reps. Jay Obernolte (R-Calif.) and Lori Trahan (D-Mass.). The proposed bill would create a national approach to AI regulation while temporarily preempting many state laws governing the development of AI models. States would still be able to regulate many uses of AI after deployment.

The debate follows an earlier effort to impose a broader moratorium on state AI laws. That proposal was ultimately removed, but the issue has returned in a narrower form.

Led by Michael Moore (D-Miss.) and Louis Blessing (R-Ohio), the lawmakers argue that states have become the primary source of AI oversight. At the same time, Congress continues to debate comprehensive federal legislation. They warn that freezing state authority without establishing federal protections would leave consumers, workers, and businesses with fewer legal safeguards as AI adoption accelerates.

The letter also rejects the bill’s proposed three-year pause on many state AI laws. Supporters of the proposal argue the three-year pause would prevent companies developing AI models from having to comply with dozens of different state laws while Congress works on a single national framework. The lawmakers disagree, arguing that states have historically served as “laboratories of democracy,” allowing them to respond quickly to emerging issues and test new policy approaches. They say AI should be no exception. 

Among their concerns is that the draft bill would override state laws governing AI model development without establishing a comparable federal system. The lawmakers also say the proposal could prevent states from responding to new AI risks that emerge during the three-year preemption period, even as the technology continues to evolve rapidly.

The coalition asked Congress to remove the preemption provision entirely or substantially narrow its scope. The letter argues that any future federal preemption should occur only after Congress enacts comprehensive AI protections that provide safeguards at least as strong as those already adopted by states.

The Great American AI Act remains a discussion draft, and lawmakers are continuing to solicit public feedback before introducing formal legislation. The state lawmakers’ letter asks Congress to remove the preemption provision or substantially narrow its scope, arguing that states should retain the ability to regulate AI until comprehensive federal protections are in place.