Tech Giants Fail Again to Block State AI Regulations
Congress has rejected a second attempt by major technology firms to preempt state-level AI legislation through the National Defense Authorization Act. Meta, OpenAI, Google, and Andreessen Horowitz sought federal preemption to avoid navigating disparate regulations across states like California and New York.
The House and Senate Armed Services Committees unanimously opposed the measure, citing procedural inappropriateness. This follows a 99-1 Senate vote earlier this year against limiting states' AI regulatory authority, reflecting bipartisan support for localized oversight of emerging technologies.
Industry arguments about regulatory simplicity and cost efficiency failed to outweigh lawmakers' prioritization of consumer protections. The outcome reinforces a growing trend of state governments asserting autonomy in tech governance, particularly for AI applications with societal impact.
