With Congress Stalled on AI, U.S. Governors Build Their Own Bipartisan Front

Maryland Governor Wes Moore is launching a new bipartisan coalition of U.S. governors focused on the opportunities and risks of artificial intelligence, arguing that states can’t wait for Congress to pass a comprehensive AI safety law. The group will bring together Republican and Democratic governors to share best practices and coordinate policy on issues ranging from election disinformation and deepfakes to labor market disruption, education, and the use of AI in public services.

Moore has said that federal inaction is leaving a dangerous vacuum, forcing states to improvise rules on their own. The new forum is expected to solicit input from academic experts, industry leaders, and civil society organizations, with the possibility of developing model state legislation or common guidelines that members can adapt.

Across the U.S., cities and states are already moving ahead with their own AI rules, raising fears of a fragmented “patchwork” regulatory landscape. By organizing governors across party lines, this initiative aims to reduce that fragmentation and build a more coherent, bottom‑up approach to AI governance—one that could eventually influence how Washington itself chooses to regulate the technology.