Legislative committee votes to ask U.S. lawmakers to block 10‑year federal pause on state AI rules

Madam Chair Thompson and the Legislative Health & Human Services interim committee voted to send a letter to New Mexico’s congressional delegation asking them to oppose a federal provision that, as described at a national meeting, would bar states from enforcing or enacting artificial intelligence rules for 10 years.

The committee approved the letter after discussion about states’ authority to regulate technologies that affect health, insurance and consumer protections. Committee members said the federal language — circulated at a National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) briefing — would strip states of the ability to respond to AI risks that arise in domains such as health care and insurance.

Madam Chair Thompson said NCSL asked state lawmakers to push back because the provision would prevent states from acting: “It has a provision that keeps states from enforcing or enacting legislation on AI for 10 years,” she told the committee, and quoted the draft language presented at the NCSL meeting.

Senator Larry Scott pressed the committee on practical implications and the technical and economic stakes, asking whether New Mexico has the in‑state expertise and whether the committee’s position could jeopardize investment. Thompson and other members replied that expertise is available through state agencies, universities and national organizations and that the committee’s letter would simply preserve states’ ability to act.

Representative Mariana Anaya urged voting members to support the letter as a states’‑rights and constitutional issue: “If you are a proponent of having rights here in our state, then you should be for this,” she said.

Representative Eleanor Chavez moved that the committee send the letter; Senator Larry Scott seconded. The committee called a roll and, by a recorded vote, approved the letter 4–1. The roll call recorded votes by voting members present: Representative Chavez — yes; Representative Pamela Herndon — yes; Senator Larry Scott — no; Senator Linda Lopez (Vice Chair) — yes; Madam Chair Thompson — yes.

The committee’s action is limited to sending the letter; it does not change state law. Staff and members said follow‑up work could include briefings from NCSL, state information‑technology officials and other experts to help shape any future state legislation or agency guidance if federal restrictions are not enacted.

The committee scheduled further interim work on AI and data‑privacy topics as part of a broader agenda on health‑care workforce, behavioral health implementation and Medicaid funding.

The committee said the letter would be transmitted to New Mexico’s congressional delegation and that members may request subsequent briefings if the federal proposal advances.