Bipartisan AI Bill Proposes Federal Preemption of State Laws, Sparking Safety Concerns

Jun 05, 2026
POLITICO
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Summary

A new bipartisan 269-page AI bill proposes federal preemption of state AI laws, requiring top developers to disclose safety risks while allocating $300 million for enforcement, but critics warn it would strip states of accountability powers and turn existing protections into a ceiling rather than a floor.

Key Points

  • Reps. Jay Obernolte and Lori Trahan unveil a 269-page bipartisan AI discussion draft that would preempt state AI laws and require top developers to disclose safety and security risks of new models.
  • The proposal faces fierce criticism from AI safety advocates and lawmakers in both parties, who warn that federal preemption would eliminate state-level accountability and turn existing state protections into a ceiling rather than a floor.
  • The framework tasks the Center for AI Standards and Innovation with enforcing compliance, authorizes $300 million over three years for its budget, and includes a three-year sunset provision before states can resume regulating advanced AI development.

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