California Rep. Calls for Guardrails as Preemption Fight Shapes AI Talks

Ted Lieu, D-Calif., said state rules not ideal, but unavoidable until Congress sets baseline protections.

Akul Saxena

Dec 3, 2025 — 2 min read

Photo of Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., speaking with The Hill technology reporter Julia Shapero at AI in American Summit on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3, 2025 – Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., said Wednesday he isn’t opposed to federal preemption efforts on state AI regulation – but urged a “reasonable standard” before preempting state artificial intelligence laws.

“It can’t simply be replaced with nothing,” Lieu said at a summit on AI by The Hill.

Lieu highlighted more than 17 states advancing child safety, synthetic media, and transparency laws. Such a state-by-state patchwork is “not ideal” and is inefficient, he said, but without a national framework, states are justified in stepping in.

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Department of Defense Congress national security AI The Hill California House Bipartisan Task Force on Artificial Intelligence ADP National Employment Report NDAA AI in America Summit