Two Republicans on the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee are calling on the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to get a full picture of state and federal AI regulations. Rep. Brian Babin (Texas) and Rep. Jay Obanolte (Calif.), the committee chair and research and technology subcommittee chair, respectively, sent a letter to Comptroller General Gene Dodaro on Wednesday urging GAO to conduct a “comprehensive review” of current federal and state laws regulating artificial intelligence, with the goal of informing future legislative efforts.
“In recent years, various federal and state laws, executive orders, and other forms of guidance have established requirements for the development, deployment, and use of AI,” the letter reads. According to NextGov/FCW. “We urge GAO to examine current laws and regulations governing AI at both the federal and state levels to address these important issues and assist in the legislative process.”
According to NextGov, the letter acknowledges the challenges Congress faces in drafting AI regulations in the absence of a comprehensive policy framework. But lawmakers emphasized that the review will allow Congress to evaluate the current regulatory landscape, including both state and federal laws, and determine when federal action would be useful and appropriate.
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“This review should cover not only existing laws and regulations that may apply to AI, but also those that relate specifically to AI,” the letter said.
Related: January 2026 brings a new phase to AI rules in the US, Europe and China
The letter comes as the Trump administration has ordered federal agencies to independently review state and federal AI regulations within their respective powers, aiming to eliminate or pre-empt as much as possible. The White House has threatened to withhold certain federal funding from states it deems to impose “unduly burdensome” regulations on AI systems and companies.
Republicans in Congress have also twice tried to insert a provision into the broader bill that would impose a 10-year moratorium on state AI laws, but were forced to remove the moratorium language from the bill after encountering opposition.
“I hope we don’t have to pause. I hope we can move straight to passing that framework,” Obernolte told Nextgov/FCW in early February.
According to the bureau’s tally, National Conference of State LegislaturesAll 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia have introduced AI-related bills in 2025, and 38 states have enacted approximately 100 AI-related bills. Since 2024, nearly 1,000 bills touching on one or more aspects of AI have been introduced in state legislatures across the country.
As state regulation increases, pressure increases on Congress to develop a comprehensive policy framework to guide federal laws that override state regulations. But with midterm elections looming, any comprehensive legislation may have to wait until the new Congress convenes in January 2027.
