SACRAMENTO, CA – In response to federal legislation that would prohibit state and local governments from enforcing any AI laws for a period of ten years, Senator Josh Becker (D-Menlo Park) issued a statement expressing disappointment and concern over mounting efforts to preempt California’s emerging artificial intelligence (AI) regulations with watered-down federal legislation. These efforts threaten to derail state-led initiatives like Becker’s pioneering California AI Transparency Act, the first of its kind in the nation. Becker has also passed the Physicians Make Decisions Act to ensure doctors have the final say in medical decisions, not AI, and the California AI Work Group in Education, which will incorporate best practices in K-12 education.
“It is deeply troubling to see companies and lobbyists attempt to use Washington to undermine California’s AI leadership,” said Becker. “I’ve worked diligently to create thoughtful, forward-looking legislation that ensures AI is developed and deployed safely, transparently, and ethically. Efforts to strip states of their ability to act in the public interest are unacceptable and literally put lives at risk. These consumer protections are national models that the federal government should adopt rather than attack.”
Becker, who represents Silicon Valley and chairs the Senate Subcommittee on AI, emphasized California’s unique position—and responsibility—as a national and global leader in technology regulation.
“We’ve seen this before with data privacy, where California had to lead and Washington failed to act,” Becker said. “We won’t let corporate interests dictate the terms of innovation at the expense of the public. Our job is to ensure AI works for people, not just profits.”
Becker pledged to continue working with fellow legislators, consumer advocates, and responsible innovators to advance meaningful, state-level AI protections—and urged Congress to learn from California’s example rather than attempt to erase it. This year, he is authoring SB 361, which requires businesses that deploy a high-risk AI system that processes personal information to create strong standards that protect that information.