State Representatives Julie Willoughby and Nick Kupper have expressed concerns over a proposed federal moratorium that could impact Arizona’s authority to enforce state laws on artificial intelligence (AI). In a letter sent to U.S. Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego, the representatives warned that the 10-year ban included in H.R. 1, known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, would hinder Arizona’s ability to implement its own AI regulations.
The proposed moratorium would prevent Arizona from enforcing legislation related to AI use in insurance decisions and criminal prosecutions. “The sweeping federal moratorium on enforcing laws like these is an unjustified overreach and would unnecessarily delay important protections for our residents,” said Representatives Willoughby and Kupper. They further noted that such a prohibition could “hinder innovation and accountability by freezing regulatory progress.”
Arizona has recently passed two bipartisan laws that would be affected by this federal action. HB2175, sponsored by Representative Willoughby, prohibits health insurers from using AI for final decisions on medical claims or prior authorization requests, ensuring human oversight. Another law, HB2678, updates the state’s criminal code to address computer-generated images depicting child sexual abuse.
“These are practical laws designed to protect Arizonans,” said Representative Willoughby. She emphasized that Washington should not dictate the enforcement of these state laws. Representative Kupper added, “A 10-year freeze on state authority, with no federal alternative in place, is dangerous.”
Both representatives have invited Senators Kelly and Gallego to discuss the issue further and collaborate on protecting Arizona’s rights concerning emerging technologies.
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