White House Pressures Utah Lawmaker to Kill AI Transparency Bill
The White House is exerting pressure on a Utah Republican state legislator to abandon legislation aimed at AI transparency and children’s safety, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Significance of the Intervention
This development signals that the Trump administration is beginning to intervene in state matters concerning AI regulation. A letter dated February 12 from the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs explicitly opposes HB 286, the proposed Artificial Intelligence Transparency Act.
Details of the Proposed Bill
State Representative Doug Fiefia‘s bill aims to require frontier AI companies to publicly disclose their safety and child-protection plans and to include whistleblower protections for employees reporting safety concerns.
White House Communications
Despite multiple requests for comment from both the White House and Cullimore’s office, no responses were received. Sources indicate that White House officials have engaged in several discussions with Fiefia over the past two weeks, urging him to halt the bill’s progression. However, the administration has not proposed any specific amendments that could render the bill acceptable.
Statements from Lawmakers
In response, Fiefia expressed appreciation for the White House’s engagement on the issue, stating that while there may be disagreements on the path forward, transparency, accountability, and clear guardrails should be foundational to any responsible AI policy.
Administrative Context
Last year, President Trump signed an executive order aimed at overriding state AI laws, directing the Justice Department to form an AI litigation task force to identify legislation deemed incompatible with the administration’s approach and initiate legal challenges. Notably, the letter does not provide a legal rationale for opposing the bill, marking a rare intervention in state affairs.
Potential Implications
The executive order specifically named only one state, Colorado, leading to speculation that legal challenges could predominantly target blue states. However, the situation in Utah suggests a broader approach may be forthcoming.
Broader Landscape of AI Regulation
The proposed bill mirrors California’s AI transparency law, which has also faced criticism from White House officials for contributing to a fragmented state regulatory landscape. Both bills require safety disclosures from frontier AI companies, potentially establishing a de facto national standard as Congress prepares for further preemption debates.
Conclusion: The Bigger Picture
Utah’s situation could signify a larger trend, with Republican-led states nationwide pursuing AI transparency initiatives that many lawmakers consider centrist and sensible. This could lead to state-by-state confrontations with the White House, testing the administration’s resolve to push back against such legislative efforts, even within its own party.
