Republican Governors Praise One Big Beautiful Bill, Urge Congress to Allow States to Protect Citizens from Misuse of Artificial Intelligence

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Republican governors sent a joint letter to Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson on the State Artificial Intelligence (AI) moratorium included in the One Big Beautiful Bill.

In part, the governors wrote:

“President Trump’s One, Big, Beautiful Bill is a win for the American people, cutting taxes, moving welfare recipients off the path to dependency and onto the path to prosperity, growing the economy, and helping secure the border.

“While the legislation overall is very strong, there is one small portion of it that threatens to undo all the work states have done to protect our citizens from the misuse of artificial intelligence. As Republican Governors, we are writing to encourage congressional leadership to strip this provision from the bill before it goes to President Trump’s desk for his signature.

“In just the past year, states have led on smart regulations of the AI industry that simultaneously protect consumers while also encouraging this ever-developing and critical sector. In Arkansas, for example, the Legislature created basic copyright guidelines for generative AI, protected Arkansans from the nonconsensual use of their likeness, and prohibited the creation of sexually explicit AI images of real people – especially children. Similarly, Utah law requires disclosure if someone is interacting with AI and creates other consumer protections. Other states have made or are in the process of creating similar reforms – commonsense changes that every state, and Congress, should get behind.”

Read the full letter here.

Signatories to the letter include: Governor Kay Ivey (AL), Governor Mike Dunleavy (AK), Governor Sarah Sanders (AR), Governor Brian Kemp (GA),  Governor Brad Little (ID), Governor Kim Reynolds (IA), Governor Jeff Landry (LA), Governor Mike Kehoe (MO), Governor Greg Gianforte (MT), Governor Jim Pillen (NE), Governor Kelly Armstrong (ND), Governor Kevin Stitt (OK), Governor Henry McMaster (SC), Governor Larry Rhoden (SD), Governor Bill Lee (TN), Governor Spencer Cox (UT), and Governor Mark Gordon (WY).

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