HR 425 — A Resolution urging the United States Congress to suspend any and all efforts to pass Federal legislation that would impose a moratorium on state-level artificial intelligence regulation; recognizing the potential benefits along with the risks of misuse and systemic harm of artificial intelligence; acknowledging the importance of state regulation of such technologies; and reaffirming the Pennsylvania General Assembly's sovereign authority to legislate for the protection of Pennsylvanians.

PRINTER'S NO.    2969

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



              HOUSE RESOLUTION
                 No. 425
                                                 Session of
                                                   2026

     INTRODUCED BY HADDOCK, CIRESI, PIELLI, HILL-EVANS, WAXMAN,
        RIVERA AND VENKAT, MARCH 5, 2026

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON COMMUNICATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY,
        MARCH 9, 2026


                                  A RESOLUTION
 1   Urging the United States Congress to suspend any and all efforts
 2      to pass Federal legislation that would impose a moratorium on
 3      state-level artificial intelligence regulation; recognizing
 4      the potential benefits along with the risks of misuse and
 5      systemic harm of artificial intelligence; acknowledging the
 6      importance of state regulation of such technologies; and
 7      reaffirming the Pennsylvania General Assembly's sovereign
 8      authority to legislate for the protection of Pennsylvanians.
 9         WHEREAS, Artificial Intelligence, or AI, technologies have
10   high potential for various economic sectors, including health
11   care, finance, manufacturing, telecommunications, information
12   technology, media, education, energy and legal services; and
13         WHEREAS, Pennsylvania is a key state for the development of
14   AI, specifically in its academic programs and robotics research;
15   and
16         WHEREAS, Responsible development and deployment of AI can
17   promote economic growth, improve government efficiency, reduce
18   human error, expand access to services and enhance the quality
19   of life for all Pennsylvanians; and
20         WHEREAS, AI systems can also pose significant threats to
 1   civil liberties, bias and discrimination, job displacement,
 2   cybercrime, misinformation, environmental harms, intellectual
 3   property theft and a lack of transparency in use for critical
 4   decision-making contexts such as hiring, housing and health
 5   care; and
 6      WHEREAS, Several states, including Pennsylvania, have already
 7   begun enacting legislation to address these harms and build
 8   public trust through transparency, accountability and ethical
 9   standards; and
10      WHEREAS, Pennsylvania, like other states, has already enacted
11   and enforced laws pertaining to deepfakes, nonconsensual
12   manipulated intimate material and AI-generated child sexual
13   abuse material; and
14      WHEREAS, Pennsylvania needs to be able to enact laws that
15   protect vulnerable Pennsylvanians from these ever-evolving
16   threats; and
17      WHEREAS, Provisions proposed for Federal laws, including the
18   legislation commonly referred to as the "Big Beautiful Bill" and
19   the annual National Defense Authorization Act, would have
20   preempted states and local governments from enacting or
21   enforcing laws regulating AI; and
22      WHEREAS, President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order
23   on December 11, 2025, outlining his administration's intentions
24   to create a national policy framework for artificial
25   intelligence that includes efforts to create an AI litigation
26   task force, legally challenge state AI laws and restrict state
27   funding under the Broadband Equity and Access Deployment
28   Program; and
29      WHEREAS, This unprecedented Federal preemption undermines
30   Pennsylvania's ability to respond swiftly to emerging AI-related

20260HR0425PN2969                 - 2 -
 1   harms and violates the principle of cooperative federalism; and
 2      WHEREAS, A one-size-fits-all national approach to AI
 3   governance may fail to reflect the diverse needs, values and
 4   priorities of states and local communities; and
 5      WHEREAS, Among several states, including Pennsylvania, there
 6   is bipartisan agreement that states must maintain their
 7   sovereign right to create legislation and regulations on AI;
 8   therefore be it
 9      RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
10   Commonwealth of Pennsylvania urge the United States Congress to
11   suspend any and all efforts to pass Federal legislation that
12   would impose a moratorium on state-level artificial intelligence
13   regulation; recognize the potential benefits along with the
14   risks of misuse and systemic harm of artificial intelligence;
15   acknowledge the importance of state regulation of such
16   technologies; and reaffirm the Pennsylvania General Assembly's
17   sovereign authority to legislate for the protection of
18   Pennsylvanians; and be it further
19      RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
20   Commonwealth of Pennsylvania:
21          (1)   Affirm the sovereign right and constitutional
22      responsibility of the Pennsylvania General Assembly to
23      legislate in the interest of Pennsylvania residents,
24      including in matters related to AI and emerging technologies.
25          (2)   Urge the United States Congress to withdraw, amend
26      or oppose any Federal legislation that imposes a blanket
27      moratorium on state or local regulation of AI.
28          (3)   Urge President Trump and the United States Justice
29      Department to cease their threats to take legal action
30      against state laws on AI or withhold broadband funding for

20260HR0425PN2969                    - 3 -
 1    states that pass AI regulations.
 2        (4)   Call upon Pennsylvania's Congressional delegation to
 3    advocate for a regulatory framework that respects state
 4    authority, promotes innovation and safeguards public welfare.
 5        (5)   Direct the Chief Clerk of the House of
 6    Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to
 7    transmit a copy of this resolution to the Office of the White
 8    House, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker
 9    of the United States House of Representatives and each member
10    of Congress from Pennsylvania.




20260HR0425PN2969                - 4 -