AI Preemption

As House Judiciary Chair, joined Speaker Johnson and Majority Leader Scalise in supporting the White House's March 2026 national AI policy framework, which calls for federal preemption of state AI laws to "beat China in the global AI race."

Claims that 50 states passing individual laws creates confusing patchworks of regulations; acknowledges that 10 years may be too long

Called Georgia state leaders asking them not to pursue state-level AI legislation; said AI is a federal issue and "if each state does something different, it needs to come from the federal level"; reportedly stalled a Georgia state AI bill.

Asked Michael Kratsio if the lack of federal preemption is among the top three hurdles to innovation

Argues that we need a national framework instead of a patchwork of policies'; says that "We need a national framework; we don’t want a patchwork of policies on AI, especially having states like California set the agenda" in the Washington Reporter

Mentions that a proactive yet light-touch federal approach can harness AI's potential without stifling growth

A part of a group of women lawmakers urging Speaker Mike Johnson and Dem Leader Hakeem Jeffries to reject any effort to include a broad moratorium on state and local AI regulation in the NDAA

Said that Trump's "ban on states regulating AI only serves billionaire tech CEOs.”

Voted in favor of stripping a 10-year moratorium on state AI regulation

Voted to strike the section relating to AI preemption.

Praised the Senate's 99-1 vote to remove the 10-year state AI preemption moratorium from the original House version of the One Big Beautiful Bill, calling it a "wise" decision -- a signal he opposes broad federal preemption of state AI laws.

Argues that states should be able to adopt more stringent regulations than federal regulations

Co-sponsored the Guaranteeing and Upholding Americans' Right to Decide Responsible AI Laws and Standards (GUARDRAILS) Act which sets to repeat Trump's executive order entitled “Ensuring a National Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence” designed to establish a moratorium on state-level artificial intelligence policies

A part of a group of women lawmakers urging Speaker Mike Johnson and Dem Leader Hakeem Jeffries to reject any effort to include a broad moratorium on state and local AI regulation in the NDAA.

Before resigning Jan 2026; led right-flank opposition to 10-year AI moratorium in One Big Beautiful Bill, calling its removal "a huge win for federalism"; warned moratorium "strips states of the right to make laws or regulate AI for 10 years" and that "giving it free rein and tying states hands is potentially dangerous".

Haggard explicitly said he doesn't like the threat of pulling funding from states with AI laws, and anticipates Indiana's state-level protections will remain on the books, though he doesn't state it as a hard policy position

Has expressed concern about federal overreach in AI's use in education, but has not addressed the preemption question specifically

Said "When we talk about preemption, I would want states to be able to go farther,” to The Daily Signal, “so I would prefer to see a floor rather than a ceiling, for their ability to innovate and respond to kids online safety concerns, because the states are going to be way more nimble at addressing concerns from parents than the federal government.”

Voted to strike the section relating to AI preemption

Writes that in the absence of a robust federal framework, states should be able to regulate AI based on the needs of their communities

Co-sponsored the Guaranteeing and Upholding Americans' Right to Decide Responsible AI Laws and Standards (GUARDRAILS) Act which sets to repeat Trump's executive order entitled “Ensuring a National Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence” designed to establish a moratorium on state-level artificial intelligence policies

Voted no on H.R. 1, One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Cruz Amendment

Led a group of women lawmakers to urge Speaker Mike Johnson and Dem Leader Hakeem Jeffries to reject any effort to include a broad moratorium on state and local AI regulation in the NDAA.

Co-sponsored the Guaranteeing and Upholding Americans' Right to Decide Responsible AI Laws and Standards (GUARDRAILS) Act which sets to repeat Trump's executive order entitled “Ensuring a National Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence” designed to establish a moratorium on state-level artificial intelligence policies