TN Attorney General co-leads letter opposing amendment that would limit state AI regulation

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: WKRN-TV Nashville, TN

Posted: May 17, 2025 / 10:06 AM CDT
Updated: May 17, 2025 / 10:06 AM CDT


NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti is looking to keep Artificial Intelligence regulations up to the states. On Friday, Skrmetti joined a coalition of 36 other state attorneys general in leading a letter to oppose a federal ban on state regulation of AI products.

The letter warns that an amendment added in the Budget Reconciliation Bill by the U.S. House and Energy and Commerce Committee would impose a 10-year ban on states from enforcing “any state law or regulation addressing AI and automated decision-making systems.”

According to the attorneys general, the bill will affect hundreds of existing and pending state laws that were passed and considered by both Republican and Democrat state legislatures. Skrmetti’s office said states have been at the forefront of keeping consumers protected from the dangers of AI.

“The combined efforts of the states and the federal government have been, at best, barely enough to protect consumers from Big Tech,” said Skrmetti. “AI has incredible potential but amplifies every risk we’ve seen from Big Tech and creates new risks we don’t fully understand. Eliminating state oversight through this reconciliation amendment guarantees Americans will suffer repeated violations of their privacy, consumer protection, and antitrust laws.”

Read more: https://www.wkrn.com/news/tennessee-news/tn-attorney-general-co-leads-letter-opposing-amendment-that-would-limit-state-ai-regulation/

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Link to LETTER (PDF) - https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/attorneygeneral/documents/pr/2025/2025-5-letter.pdf

This is extremely rare in these times as it is very much BIPARTISAN!

[ShazzieB]

1. Interesting.

The letter warns that an amendment added in the Budget Reconciliation Bill by the U.S. House and Energy and Commerce Committee would impose a 10-year ban on states from enforcing “any state law or regulation addressing AI and automated decision-making systems.”

Gee whiz, I wonder who would want to ban state regulation of AI? I just can't imagine... oh, wait, what's that smell? Do I detect a whiff of MUSKrat?

Why, yes, I believe I do!

[pnwmom]

2. Good. This is so important and I'm glad to see 36 states, including R states, are involved. All 50 should be,

but this is a start.

[BumRushDaShow]

3. The original article I saw (that was outside of LBN's 12 hour) said "40" (+ territories & D.C.)

The CO AG had this - Attorney General Weiser co-leads 40 bipartisan AGs urging Congress not to prohibit states from enforcing artificial intelligence regulations

(snip)

Joining Attorney General Weiser in leading the letter are the attorneys general of Tennessee, New Hampshire, and Vermont. They are joined by the attorneys general of American Samoa, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, U.S. Virgin Islands, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin.

(snip)

Missing are AL, FL, GA, IA, ID, MO, MT, NE, TX, WV.

[pnwmom]

4. Thanks! nt