US Lawmakers Propose Bill to Block States From Regulating AI
WASHINGTON : Two lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives have introduced a draft bill that would stop individual states from creating their own rules on artificial intelligence development.
The proposal, led by Democrat Lori Trahan and Republican Jay Obernolte, seeks to prevent states from passing laws that control how AI models are built or tested before release.
Under the draft, states would not be allowed to require AI companies to carry out safety testing before launching their systems to the public.
However, the bill still allows states to regulate how AI tools are used in real-world situations.
The lawmakers say the goal is to build a single national framework that supports innovation while keeping the United States competitive in global AI development.
The move has split opinion in Washington.
Tech industry groups welcomed the proposal, saying it would create clearer national standards for AI growth and deployment.
But consumer rights organisations criticised it, arguing that it could weaken protections and leave safety oversight mostly to the federal government, which they say has struggled to pass strong AI laws.
The draft is still open for review and has not yet been formally introduced in Congress.
