California’s legislative leaders are urging Congress to protect the rights of states and local governments to enact their own AI laws, warning that sweeping federal intervention could stall innovation and weaken existing citizen protections. They argue that state and local regulations are crucial for reflecting community-specific concerns and ensuring responsible AI deployment.
In particular, the lawmakers contend that a proposed federal ban on state-level AI policy would “set back progress” by undercutting protections already in motion. They say this could lead to a regulatory gap where powerful companies move unimpeded across jurisdictions, while states lose vital oversight powers.
The push comes amid tension between Sacramento and Washington over who should lead AI governance. California officials are framing the issue as not just legal but moral: ensuring AI systems align with public interest, protect privacy, and maintain democratic accountability. The move underscores the growing role of states in tech policy — even as the federal government wades into AI regulation.
The debate raises key questions about governance: Should AI rules be uniform across the U.S., or should states tailor policies to their constituencies? California’s lawmakers make the case for the latter, emphasizing that one-size-fits-all regulation may overlook localized risks and opportunities tied to AI use.
