AI Legislation

Over 200 bipartisan state lawmakers have petitioned Congress to reject the Great American AI Act, which would preempt state AI regulations, signaling growing resistance to federal centralization of AI governance.

The petition highlights tension between state experimentation—as seen in Wisconsin's deepfake ban—and federal threats to withhold infrastructure funding, with legislators arguing for partnership rather than preemption.

Pay attention to how this pushback could shape the balance of power in AI regulation.

Tracking: AI Legislation · AI law · AI regulation

Geography: European Union, United States, China, United Kingdom, Canada, India, Japan

1. 200 state lawmakers petition Congress to reject bill curbing state AI rules

Over 200 lawmakers from across the U.S., including five from Wisconsin, signed a petition urging Congress to reject the Great American AI Act, which would preempt state regulations on training large language models.

Bipartisan Wisconsin legislators Clinton Anderson and Adam Neylon stressed the need for state flexibility alongside a national standard, warning that the bill's broad preemption would freeze existing state laws.

A June Pew poll found 40% of Americans expect AI to have largely negative societal effects, while only 16% see it as positive.

The Trump administration previously issued an executive order threatening to cut broadband and infrastructure funding for states that pass AI laws deemed 'onerous.'

Anderson called the funding threat 'not the way to go,' arguing the federal government should partner with states.

The petition signals growing bipartisan resistance to federal efforts to centralize AI governance as states continue experimenting with their own rules, including Wisconsin's existing ban on nonconsensual deepfake images.

Key facts:

- More than 200 state lawmakers signed a petition against the Great American AI Act.

- The bill would preempt state regulations on training large language models.

- Five Wisconsin lawmakers, including both Democrats and Republicans, signed the petition.

- 40% of Americans expect AI impact to be largely negative, per June Pew poll.

- Trump executive order threatened to cut state broadband funding over 'onerous' AI laws.

Why it matters: This bipartisan pushback directly challenges federal efforts to centralize AI regulation, preserving state authority to experiment with tailored rules on deepfakes, healthcare, and privacy.

If the Great American AI Act stalls, states will continue building a patchwork of laws that companies must navigate, increasing compliance costs but allowing faster local responses to AI harms.

The Trump administration's threat to withhold broadband funding adds a coercive twist, turning infrastructure into a lever for federal control. Watch for congressional committee action on the bill and whether additional state legislators join the petition.

Wpr

Generated by newsltr · 2026-07-06T13:04:19.951Z