BOISE, ID — Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador has joined a bipartisan coalition of 36 attorneys general urging Congress not to block states from regulating artificial intelligence, according to a letter sent to federal lawmakers this week.

The letter responds to recent reports that Congress may consider adding language to a military funding bill that would prohibit states from enforcing their own AI-related laws. A similar proposal surfaced earlier this year but was defeated after broad opposition from state attorneys general.

Labrador said states must retain the authority to enact protections that the federal government has not yet put in place.

“I will never support the federal government telling a state what it can and cannot do to protect our citizens within the framework of the Constitution,” Labrador said. “We have seen that Artificial Intelligence can be dangerously abused and exploited. States like Idaho shouldn’t be blocked from doing what we see as right and necessary.”

The coalition’s leaders argue that while AI technologies offer significant benefits, attorneys general are increasingly dealing with cases involving harmful or dangerous uses of artificial intelligence. Recent examples noted in the letter include AI tools used to scam senior citizens, manipulate vulnerable users, interact inappropriately with children, or encourage self-harm.

States have also passed laws aimed at curbing deceptive AI-generated content, blocking AI-driven robocalls and text scams, and addressing privacy risks and algorithmic manipulation. According to the letter, eliminating these state-level protections could “be catastrophic for people’s safety.”

In Idaho, new state regulations have already been applied to criminalize AI-generated child sexual abuse material, leading to the state’s first felony conviction under the law. Labrador said his office has also pressed major technology companies—including Apple, Microsoft, Meta, and other AI developers—to adopt stronger safeguards to protect children and prevent the spread of harmful deepfake content.

Rather than restricting state efforts, the attorneys general are asking Congress to work with them on developing comprehensive federal protections against harmful AI practices.

Alongside Idaho, the letter was signed by attorneys general from more than 30 other states and U.S. territories, including Arizona, California, Washington, Oregon, Utah, and the District of Columbia.