HCR 31: Urge Congress to reject any moratorium on state AI laws
The resolution urges the US Congress to reject any moratorium on state laws regulating artificial intelligence. The resolution cites the Tenth Amendment to the US Constitution, which reserves powers not explicitly delegated to the federal government to the states. This suggests that the regulation of artificial intelligence is a state matter. The resolution also notes that the states are better equipped to respond to emerging issues and tailor policies to local needs. It criticizes large companies' support for a moratorium on state laws and argues that such a moratorium would prioritize profits over public health, safety, and welfare.
| Feb. 04, 2026 | Introduced and Referred to Committee: Technology and Innovation |
As Introduced
136th General Assembly
Regular Session
2025-2026
H. C. R. No. 31
Representative Cockley
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
To urge the Congress of the United States to reject any moratorium on state laws regulating artificial intelligence.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF OHIO (THE SENATE CONCURRING):
WHEREAS, The United States Congress rejected an effort to insert a moratorium on artificial intelligence regulation in the National Defense Authorization Act; and
WHEREAS, A similar moratorium was stricken by the Senate from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act; and
WHEREAS, The Tenth Amendment of the United States Constitution provides that powers not explicitly delegated to the federal government remain with the states; and
WHEREAS, The power to regulate artificial intelligence is not explicitly delegated to the federal government; and
WHEREAS, The states, as the laboratories of democracy, are best positioned to respond quickly to emerging harms and tailor policy to local needs; and
WHEREAS, Congress currently has no plan to regulate artificial intelligence on a federal level; and
WHEREAS, Large artificial intelligence companies and their
H. C. R. No. 31
As Introduced
Page 2
WHEREAS, trade associations support and have lobbied for a moratorium on state laws regulating artificial intelligence; and
WHEREAS, A moratorium on state laws regulating artificial intelligence places profits over the health, safety, and welfare of Americans; and
WHEREAS, Executive orders attempting to legislate artificial intelligence policy are blatantly unconstitutional; now therefore be it
RESOLVED, That we, the members of the 136th General Assembly of the State of Ohio, condemn the idea of an artificial intelligence legislation moratorium in all of its iterations and urge members of Congress to reject inclusion of such language as part of any federal legislation and executive orders; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Clerk of the House of Representatives transmit duly authenticated copies of this resolution to the President Pro Tempore and Secretary of the United States Senate and the Speaker and Clerk of the United States House of Representatives.