OPINION:
If the One Big Beautiful Bill Act is to live up to its name, it must leave room for states to lead.
In 1932, Justice Louis Brandeis described the states as “laboratories of democracy,” where policy innovation could take root and be refined without putting the entire nation at risk. That principle remains vital today, especially as we face the complex and fast-moving challenges of artificial intelligence.
Congress’ proposed One Big Beautiful Bill Act seeks to position the United States as a global leader in AI. We share that ambition, but one provision threatens to undercut a core strength of our constitutional system: the ability of states to lead in their own right within a compound republic. Specifically, the bill includes a 10-year moratorium on state-level AI regulation. That sweeping restriction would sideline the very innovation and accountability that states are best positioned to provide.
In Utah, we have embraced our role as a proving ground for good governance. In 2024, our state became the first in the nation to create an Office of Artificial Intelligence Policy, followed by the launch of an AI Learning Lab and a regulatory mitigation framework. These actions weren’t driven by panic or ideology; they were shaped by months of careful collaboration with industry, academia and the public.
Our approach was simple: Encourage responsible innovation while protecting the people we serve. We didn’t need a federal mandate to act, and we didn’t wait for Washington to tell us what to do. We acted because we believe in the principle that governments closest to the people are often the most effective at responding to new challenges.
That’s the design of a compound republic: a structure in which power is intentionally divided between the national and state levels, each allowed to operate within its sphere. The Founders understood that concentrated power invites stagnation while distributed power encourages accountability, responsiveness and creativity.
A 10-year moratorium on state action would do more than delay progress. It would freeze innovation in places where leaders are actively working to strike the right balance between technological advancement and consumer protection. It would tell states like Utah that our initiative doesn’t matter and that our citizens must wait a decade before their government can act on their behalf.
That’s not how American governance is supposed to work.
Throughout history, state-led innovation has paved the way for some of the most effective national reforms. From education to health care to environmental stewardship, the states have often served as first movers, testing policy solutions that later became national standards. That dynamic is a feature of our system, not a flaw.
Yes, federal coordination is important, but coordination must be rooted in partnership, not preemption. States must remain free to lead, learn and legislate in ways that reflect the needs and values of their residents.
Utah’s work on AI policy is already bearing fruit. We have seen increased collaboration between government and industry, better public understanding of emerging technologies and stronger guardrails against real-world harms. These are exactly the kinds of outcomes Congress should want to encourage, not obstruct.
If the One Big Beautiful Bill Act is to live up to its name, it must leave room for states to lead. A bill that claims to champion American innovation cannot do so while silencing the entities closest to the innovation itself.
Our message is simple: Trust the system the Founders gave us. Let states serve as laboratories. Let leaders be closer to the people and remain accountable to them. Let Utah and others like us continue building a model that blends innovation with integrity.
The quickest way to stall innovation is to silence the innovators. Let’s not let this bill make that mistake. Respecting state leadership is how we make this bill truly beautiful.
• Jason E. Thompson is an entrepreneur and public servant serving in the Utah House of Representatives. He is a member of the Utah Federalism Commission.
• Doug Fiefia brings a business and technology background to his service in the Utah House of Representatives. A first-generation American and former Google leader, he is passionate about strengthening families, expanding opportunity, and empowering local communities.
Correction: A previous version of this story mistakenly omitted the name and byline of the second writer.
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