Ciresi announces opposition to Trump executive order neutering state laws regulating AI industry
Rep. Joseph Ciresi December 16, 2025 | 3:22 PM
HARRISBURG, Dec. 16 – State Rep. Joe Ciresi, D-Montgomery, today announced his opposition to President Donald Trump’s executive order which would override states’ authority to regulate artificial intelligence.
Ciresi serves as the majority chair of the House Communications & Technology Committee.
According to The New York Times, the order gives the U.S. attorney general immense authority to sue states and overturn laws that the Administration views as not in alignment with its goal of global domination of the AI industry. Trump has directed federal regulators to withhold funds for broadband and other projects if states keep their laws in place.
Trump’s argument is that his order would provide a federal regulatory framework that would override the patchwork of state regulations that might limit technological innovation and give China a competitive edge, according to The Hill. Some critics contend that Trump’s order is a “carve-out for Big Tech” as it both fails to offer a strong national standard on AI regulations and blocks states from regulating the technology.
The Trump executive order is the latest move in Washington to limit regulation of AI, including the president’s previous executive orders allowing access to federal data and making it easier for companies to build AI infrastructure. Congressional Republicans have twice this year tried to pass moratoriums on state AI laws, with both efforts failing.
“States like Pennsylvania have stepped up to pass laws to protect residents from bad actors misusing the technology in the absence of comprehensive federal AI policy and the inability of Congress to pass laws safeguarding Americans from harmful use of the technology,” Ciresi said. “Pennsylvania’s state legislature has a better understanding of how this rapidly evolving technology is impacting Pennsylvanians and has a demonstrated ability to more quickly pass sound legislation that protects residents from being targets of AI’s misuse.
“Unlike Trump, I don’t believe that this is an either/or choice between safety and innovation. What I do believe is that it is our job as legislators first and foremost to safeguard our constituents from harm.
“As majority chair of the House Communications & Technology Committee, I have guided the committee to be informed about the benefits and dangers of this nascent technology so we can establish legal guardrails to protect people while at the same time enabling technological innovation.
“This term, I have both summoned hearings with industry experts about AI technology and helped pass laws protecting consumers from grinch bots and the use of deep fake technology in political advertisements. Working together with my state legislative colleagues on both sides of the aisle, we will continue to advance legislation that will help us reap the benefits and limit the dangers of this powerful, developing technology.”
This year alone all 50 states and territories introduced AI legislation and 38 states have adopted about 100 laws.