Dear Majority Leader Thune and Minority Leader Schumer:
On behalf of the National Conference of State Legislatures, the bipartisan organization representing the legislatures of our nation's states, territories, commonwealths and Washington, D.C., we are writing to express our continued opposition to the proposed 10-year moratorium on states' ability to enforce legislation regulating artificial intelligence and any effort by Congress to pressure states into abandoning their commitment to responsible AI regulation. The Senate Commerce Committee’s decision to tie states’ access to BEAD funding to compliance with a federal preemption of state AI laws is also deeply concerning. NCSL urges all senators to reject the proposed moratorium.
The provision represents a clear overreach that undermines cooperative federalism, jeopardizes children’s privacy and safety and risks disrupting critical infrastructure investments in communities and small businesses across the country.
States must retain the authority to develop responsible, locally informed AI policies that protect their residents without being coerced by the federal government through funding threats. State legislators are committed to fostering innovation while safeguarding the interests of the people they serve. This includes ensuring that all Americans have access to the transformative benefits of AI through reliable broadband.
We urge all senators to reject this misguided provision and instead work collaboratively with state leaders to promote thoughtful AI governance—without coercion or federal overreach.
Thank you for your attention to this critical matter.
Sincerely,
Wayne A. Harper
NCSL President
Utah State Senate
Marcus C. Evans, Jr.
NCSL President-Elect
Illinois House of Representatives
Barry Usher
NCSL Vice President
Montana State Senate
Brian Patrick Kennedy
President Emeritus
Rhode Island House of Representatives
cc: Members of the United States Senate