Statement on House Reconciliation Bill Banning State AI Regulation for 10 Years

SAN FRANCISCO, May 12, 2025 — James P. Steyer, Founder and CEO of Common Sense Media, issued the following statement on the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee's proposal to ban AI regulation by state and local governments for the next 10 years:

"At a time when parents and kids are looking to their elected lawmakers for reasonable guardrails for safe AI use, and when states are beginning to take thoughtful action, the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee is instead considering legislation to put industry interests over our kids' safety.

"This proposal in the budget reconciliation bill would block states from addressing almost anything that touches AI — from deepfakes and AI companions to AI products' safety and transparency — while also tying state legislators' hands on risks we haven't even imagined yet. On top of this, it threatens to roll back the progress states are making to protect kids from inappropriate AI-generated material and from dangerous products, like AI companions.

"This is irresponsible and short-sighted. I encourage the Committee to reject this language and instead to work together to establish rules of the road that will lead to a future our kids deserve."

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