Source: Route Fifty

Nine states have considered a total of 12 bills that would limit local governments’ ability to regulate artificial intelligence, according to tracking by the Local Solutions Support Center (LSSC). The bills fall into three main categories: measures restricting local engagement with AI developed in foreign countries, proposals expressly aimed at blocking local AI regulation, and statutes seeking to enshrine a “right to compute” that would impose a very high legal standard on any local AI restrictions. Montana enacted a Right to Compute Act last year; New Hampshire (with two bills), Ohio, South Carolina and Virginia are named among states with right-to-compute proposals. LSSC reports that the bills appear to be based on a model bill from the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC).

LSSC’s co-legal team lead Leslie Zellers is quoted saying individual computing rights end where legitimate government interests begin, citing examples like protecting minors or seniors from scams as possible grounds for local regulation. Zellers also said “corporate special interests” seem to be backing the state-level bills to avoid a patchwork of local rules and to secure broad access for AI services. Separate proposals in Georgia and Florida would bar localities from using foreign-made AI; LSSC acknowledged security and privacy reasons behind such measures but criticized their sweeping preemptive effect on local discretion. Illinois and New Hampshire pursued explicit bans on local AI regulation, with New Hampshire’s attempt failing, illustrating active legislative efforts and the connection LSSC sees between federal and state preemption strategies.