Oppose the Federal Ban on State and Local AI Regulation

I’m writing to urge you to oppose the provision in the current budget bill that imposes a 10-year ban on state and local regulation of artificial intelligence. This is a blatant overreach by the federal government into areas traditionally governed at the state and municipal levels—precisely where many of the real-world risks of AI misuse, including election interference, surveillance, disinformation, and consumer harm, are felt most acutely. Tying this preemption to broadband funding may satisfy parliamentary technicalities, but it doesn’t make it good policy. It’s a power grab disguised as budget policy—and one that would prevent cities and states from protecting their residents in a fast-evolving technological landscape. Where is the party of states’ rights now? This is a direct attack on local autonomy and innovation, pushed not by voters or communities, but by powerful corporate interests looking to evade oversight before laws can catch up. Please remove this provision from the final bill. If Congress wants to regulate AI, or block regulation for AI, it should do so transparently, with standalone legislation, and not by sneaking sweeping changes into unrelated budget bills.