A chorus of attorneys general from 35 states and the District of Columbia has stepped forward with a warning that cuts through the political noise: do not tie their hands when it comes to policing artificial intelligence. Their message to Congress lands with the force of a hard-drawn line—leave the states free to act, or risk unleashing technology with no one left to steer.
The letter, signed by officials across the political spectrum, signals an open confrontation with Washington at a time when AI injuries, abuses, and tragic misuse scenarios are emerging faster than national legislation. With federal action stalled, states fear that blocking their upcoming laws—some set to activate in 2026—would leave communities exposed.
“Every state should be free to defend its own residents,” declared New York’s attorney general, backed by counterparts in North Carolina, Utah, New Hampshire, and a broad coalition that rarely agrees on much but agrees on this.
Tech Giants Want One Rulebook—Theirs
Major players in the AI world have been pleading for national standards instead of a “patchwork” of state regulations. But the AGs counter that no national standards exist, and until they do, silencing state laws would be reckless.
Their argument is simple: if Congress truly wants to engage with AI’s soaring risks and potential for harm, then it should work with the states—not overrule them.
States Already Moving While Washington Waits
Across the country, states have been taking matters into their own hands. Some have criminalized deepfake sexual imagery, tightened rules on AI in political ads, and limited the role of automated systems in health-insurance decisions. Colorado has pushed toward preventing AI-driven discrimination, while California has crafted the most sweeping set of requirements of all, from transparency in training data to safety disclosures for frontier-level models.
A Political Storm Gathering
Earlier this year, senators across party lines voted overwhelmingly against blocking state AI laws. But momentum shifted when the president threw his influence behind an effort to freeze state-level rules through a defense bill add-on—an idea reportedly paused but far from dead.
For now, the message from the states is unmistakable: AI may evolve at machine speed, but democracy still needs brakes. And they intend to keep their hands firmly on them.
