Federal AI Preemption Opposition Tracker

"Republicans already tried to ban states' ability to regulate AI in their Big, Ugly Bill. That ban was voted down 99-1. Their new political maneuver would be a free pass to Big Tech, and it must be stopped again."

"This is a poison pill and we will block it."

"States have been the frontline against election deepfakes & other AI abuses. Any 'moratorium' on state safeguards would be a dire threat to our national security. Senate Democrats will block this dangerous hand out to Big Tech from being attached to the NDAA."

"Big government - but only to assist billion dollar tech companies politically aligned with Trump in stealing your jobs and poisoning your kids."

"AI has the potential to improve our lives and fundamentally change the way we work and live, but we need strong guardrails to mitigate potential harms. While Congress should take the lead on crafting the rules of the road, in the absence of federal leadership, the states must have the power to protect constituents. I am concerned about potential poison pill provisions being added to the NDAA that would block states from passing their own laws on AI. In California, that would undermine laws protecting workers, privacy and safety."

"Must be a total coincidence this announcement came the day after these guys were seen at Trump's ritzy dinner party. Trump doesn't have this authority. States are filling the void left by the federal govt's failure to create an accountability structure for AI companies."

"If we take away the pressure from the states, Congress will never act. Let's look at the fact we never did anything on social media."

Joint letter with Sen. Markey urging Democratic colleagues to stand firm against Big Tech's attempt to sneak AI regulation moratorium into defense bill: "If this provision is included, we urge you to vote against it. We must oppose this moratorium to protect states' rights to hold Big Tech accountable."

"Trump and House Republicans are pushing to ban states' ability to place safety guardrails on AI. That could be disastrous for your: —Kids' safety online —Data privacy —Energy bill But it would be good for: —Big Tech Trump's priorities. Not yours."

"The United States should lead the world in artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies. The greatest threat to that leadership isn't coming from individual states. It's coming from the Trump Administration's actions to drive away international talent, block clean energy from coming online, gut federal research funding, and turn our universities into political targets rather than national assets. If we're serious about preserving America's edge in AI, our focus should be on reversing these and other policies from the Trump Administration—not on tying the hands of states like mine."

"I'm talking about the AI moratorium which would entirely limit the ability of states to legislate on matters of AI."

"States are the laboratories for guardrails. Congress has to be sure to allow states to put in safeguards to protect their residents."

"We passed some of the nation's strongest AI safeguards to protect kids, workers, and consumers. Trump's response is to punish states for those protections and shield the very companies trying to dodge accountability. Another gift to corporations at everyone else's expense."

"The problem with this argument is that the Big Tech and VC lobby don't want any regulation whatsoever. They say they support a national standard, but in reality, it's just cheaper for them to buy off Congress to do nothing than it is to try and buy off 50 state legislatures."

"NEW: I led a letter to Republican House leadership opposing a provision in the reconciliation bill that would impose a 10-year moratorium on state and local AI regulation. 50+ state legislators signed on. NY House Republicans cannot support this."

"I just filed legislation that would limit the use of AI powered surveillance pricing and wage fixing — a practice where companies use personal data collected of consumers and workers to raise prices and lower wages. An example of the type of consumer and worker protection laws that Trump would be challenging with this action."

"This summer I led 20 GOP governors to pressure Congress to vote down its 10 year prohibition on state-level AI regulations — protecting Arkansas' AI child-exploitation ban and other commonsense safeguards. Now isn't the time to backtrack. Drop the preemption plan now and protect our kids and communities."

"Governor DeSantis is correct. States must be able to regulate the tools of AI that could severely impact our kids, our families, our constitutional rights, and our security. We already made the mistake of allowing social media companies to destroy our children's mental health and tear our country apart. Let's not do it again."

"Stripping states of jurisdiction to regulate AI is a subsidy to Big Tech and will prevent states from protecting against online censorship of political speech, predatory applications that target children, violations of intellectual property rights and data center intrusions on power/water resources. The rise of AI is the most significant economic and cultural shift occurring at the moment; denying the people the ability to channel these technologies in a productive way via self-government constitutes federal government overreach and lets technology companies run wild. Not acceptable."

"Shows what money can do"

"There should not be a moratorium on states rights for AI. States must retain the right to regulate and make laws on AI and anything else for the benefit of their state. Federalism must be preserved."

"I'm going to be opposed to that. I had not even heard about that until an hour ago. Historically, we add things to the NDAA when the four corners of the committees of jurisdiction agree to it, and I understand that's not the case here, which means I'm gonna have a problem with it."

"If America is going to stay the world's AI leader (and it must), Congress needs to step up. Pass clear, commonsense national safety standards, built together with input from states and industry experts. Get the federal framework right first. And then talk preemption. #ksleg"

"States rights! We have courts to reject unconstitutional regulations. We deserve to keep our ability to protect children online from unknown tech advances. I understand the concern from POTUS. I know we shouldn't sacrifice the safety of our children in order to help private companies. If they have a DOD contract, then they should be able to have some protections, but they also shouldn't have the ability to collect data or test on our citizens. Our elected officials OVERWHELMINGLY SPOKE against an AI Moratorium 99-1. If there is an executive order…it may win over the same big tech donors that have historically supported opponents with their huge donations, but will Lose Support from We the Parents. Please consider all, especially those of us that have lost children due to Big Tech's already unchecked control. How about a Section 230 sunset in 1 year to force big tech to come to the table. A senator proposed that and it makes sense. Big tech will come & offer solutions to protect children because of the fear of civil liability. It should protect all kids, not an arbitrary age other than Adult/Minor."

"States have the right and responsibility to lead where Congress won't. But bringing back an AI moratorium isn't the answer. We need smart guardrails, not roadblocks. This is about protecting people, not interests, and ensuring innovation serves everyone."

"Today many of my Texas Senate colleagues joined me in sending a letter to US Senators Cornyn and Cruz urging them to reject federal preemption of state AI regulations. States like Texas have taken important and proactive steps to regulate AI in common sense ways that protect consumers and children. A federal moratorium would eradicate these efforts by rendering existing state laws unenforceable."

"Ted Cruz and Republicans are trying to jam an AI moratorium into the NDAA that kills every state safeguard. A power grab in the dark. Stop it before they seal the deal."

"100% we need AI regulation. I think AI will be used to manipulate elections and influence voters to not support Conservative candidates."

"Big AI companies are trying to restrict states from regulating AI by adding a dangerous eleventh-hour provision to the annual National Defense Authorization Act. Contact your representatives – there are only a few days left to stop this!"

"Big Tech is plotting a multi-million dollar lobbying blitz to oppose AI regulation at the state and federal level. Now, House Republicans are reportedly looking to resurrect a ban on all state-level AI regulation. Always follow the money."

"House Republican leaders are trying to ban all regulation of AI at the state level."

AFL-CIO opposes limitations on state regulation of AI through legislative letters to both the House and Senate.

AFT President Randi Weingarten urges Congress to reject AI preemption in the NDAA, noting the Senate already rejected a similar provision 99-1 and that a moratorium would override state and local protections. "Our kids and young adults should not pay the price for Big Tech's profits."

ILWU President Robert Olvera Jr. opposes the AI moratorium in the NDAA, warning that "a decade-long ban – or even a short-term one – on state regulation of AI and automation would tie the hands of governments at the very moment when AI is rapidly transforming jobs." The letter notes there is no national security justification for wedging this policy into the NDAA.

"AI companies let chatbots flirt with kids & tell teens to commit suicide. Congress is trying to ban states from holding these companies accountable. Demand Progress and 250+ groups asked Congress to stop this madness & stand up to Big Tech elites."

Rabbis and Jewish community leaders urge Congress to reject AI preemption, warning that slowing AI regulation would be "disastrous." The letter states: "By legislating a preemptive moratorium on state AI legislation without first having a federal framework in place, this work will be cut short at a crucial moment."

"NCSL reaffirms opposition to AI preemption. States must retain the ability to protect their residents and address emerging AI challenges."

Bipartisan letter from over 300 state legislators across the country opposing AI preemption in the NDAA: "We write to convey our strong opposition to 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. States serve as laboratories of democracy, directly accountable to their residents, and must retain the flexibility to confront new digital challenges as they arise."

Letter from 40+ faith leaders and organizations opposing AI preemption: "As faith leaders committed to ethical technology policy, we write with deep concern regarding the proposed preemption measure on state regulation of artificial intelligence. Such a prohibition would not create order. It would create silence—locking out communities of faith and conscience, local lawmakers, and civil society voices from shaping how AI impacts our schools, courts, hospitals, and homes."

Letter led by Rep. Doris Matsui opposing AI preemption: "Our federal system is designed to let states serve as 'laboratories of democracy,' as states are closest to the communities already experiencing AI harms—from deepfakes and targeted scams to automated systems that entrench bias, and emerging risks to kids' online safety." Signatories include Nancy Pelosi, Ted Lieu, Ro Khanna, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Pramila Jayapal, and Lori Trahan.

Letter led by Rep. Yvette Clarke to Armed Services Committee leadership: "To preempt state laws would directly kneecap the power of individual state governments to implement the work that has already been signed into law. Not only would this stomp on state autonomy, but it would create an unnecessary regulatory vacuum that lets Big Tech run rampant." Signatories include Maxwell Frost, Summer Lee, Sarah McBride, Jan Schakowsky, and Nydia Velázquez.

The Progressive Caucus voted by "super-majority margin" to oppose AI preemption in the NDAA: "At present, state laws are the only recourse American consumers have for protecting themselves and their data from Big Tech and the multitude of potential harms caused by AI."

Bipartisan letter from 36 state attorneys general opposing AI preemption: "While AI promises to be a transformative technology in numerous fields, it also poses significant risks—notably to the most vulnerable among us, our children. States must be empowered to apply existing laws and formulate new approaches to meet the range of challenges associated with AI." Republican signatories include AGs from Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

Letter from whistleblower organizations and AI safety researchers opposing federal preemption: "Preemption would strip all these protections away, leaving the public, regulators, and businesses that use AI unaware of imminent danger, as employees who raise concerns about dangerous AI practices can be fired at-will, intimidated into silence, and left watching dangerous practices remain hidden behind NDAs." Signatories include National Whistleblower Center, Government Accountability Project, Transparency International U.S., and AI researchers Stuart Russell and Lawrence Lessig.

"Proposed moratorium on US state AI laws is misguided. States are on the frontlines of protecting consumers and addressing AI harms. Federal preemption would be a dangerous mistake."

"URGENT: Some in Washington are pushing to strip states of their ability to regulate AI. This would eliminate critical protections for vulnerable youth and families. We must oppose this dangerous overreach."

"It's official: Republicans in the House and Senate are working to preempt state AI laws. This is a massive gift to Big Tech at the expense of families and children who need protection from AI harms."

"This is obvious overreach. Congress explicitly rejected AI law preemption attached to broadband funding in a 99-1 vote. Forcing AI law preemption would be a massive blow to state laws safeguarding kids online, supporting workers facing automation, and protecting privacy for Americans. The public wants basic safeguards on AI, not a wild west for Big Tech." — ARI President Brad Carson