{"id":3460,"date":"2026-01-08T20:12:17","date_gmt":"2026-01-08T20:12:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.insuracarelife.com\/blog\/will-trumps-executive-order-stifle-state-efforts-to-regulate-ai\/"},"modified":"2026-01-08T20:12:17","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T20:12:17","slug":"will-trumps-executive-order-stifle-state-efforts-to-regulate-ai","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.insuracarelife.com\/blog\/will-trumps-executive-order-stifle-state-efforts-to-regulate-ai\/","title":{"rendered":"Will Trump\u2019s Executive Order Stifle State Efforts to Regulate AI?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n \t\t\t* The views expressed in externally authored materials linked or published on this site do not necessarily reflect the views of LexisNexis Legal & Professional.<\/small>\n \t\t<\/p>\n

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President Donald Trump has waded into one of the most pressing and prevalent issues in state capitols these days: regulating artificial intelligence.<\/p>\n

In early December, the president said on his Truth Social platform that he intended to sign an executive order preempting state-level AI regulations.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThere must be only One Rulebook if we are going to continue to lead in AI,\u201d Trump wrote on Dec. 8. \u201cWe are beating ALL COUNTRIES at this point in the race, but that won\u2019t last long if we are going to have 50 States, many of them bad actors, involved in RULES and the APPROVAL PROCESS. THERE CAN BE NO DOUBT ABOUT THIS! AI WILL BE DESTROYED IN ITS INFANCY!\u201d<\/p>\n

Late on Dec. 11, the president followed through with his plan, signing the \u201cEnsuring A National Policy Framework For Artificial Intelligence\u201d order, which calls for a review of all state laws that \u201crequire AI models to alter their truthful outputs, or that may compel AI developers or deployers to disclose or report information in a manner that would violate the First Amendment or any other provision of the Constitution.\u201d<\/p>\n

As SNCJ<\/em> has reported, AI regulation has arguably been the top priority of state lawmakers across the nation for years now. In 2025 alone, legislatures in 40 states enacted AI laws, according to analysis of LexisNexis\u00ae State Net\u00ae data by the National Conference of State Legislatures.<\/p>\n

With a stroke of the pen, the president has sought to undo that work. But some are not convinced the executive order has the legal force to override state law.<\/p>\n

State Leaders Appear Undeterred<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Among the questions raised by the executive order are whether Congress will decide AI is within its jurisdiction and whether the Supreme Court will uphold the president\u2019s policy move if it is legally challenged.<\/p>\n

In light of such questions, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) told Politico he doesn\u2019t believe the Trump administration has the ability to restrict states from regulating AI. DeSantis is pushing for the enactment of a slate of AI protections for Sunshine State residents in the upcoming legislative session.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, in Pennsylvania, state legislators say they need to take action on AI because Congress is sitting on its hands.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe cannot wait for Congress to act to protect our young people from these online predators,\u201d Sen. Tracy Pennycuick (R) told WAGL News Channel 8, the NBC affiliate in Central Pennsylvania. Pennycuick helped author bills to combat pornographic deepfake images of children.<\/p>\n

Indeed, earlier this year, Keystone State lawmakers showed no compunction about advancing AI legislation when congressional Republicans proposed a temporary suspension of state-level AI regulation.<\/p>\n

AI Bills Introduced in Every State in 2025<\/strong><\/h2>\n

This year lawmakers in all 50 states introduced bills dealing with artificial intelligence, according to analysis by the National Conference of State Legislatures. Such measures were enacted in 40 of those states.<\/p>\n