NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Tennessee Sen. Bo Watson (R- Hixson) joined a national conversation Thursday against a provision in the so-called "big, beautiful bill" that would prevent states from passing legislation regulating artificial intelligence for the next decade.

Several Republican state lawmakers from across the country held a forum to discuss their opposition.

“Quite frankly, an administration that has been really focused on returning authority back to the states, this is one aspect of this piece of the legislation that I’m quite disappointed in," Watson said.

Tennessee has passed multiple AI-related laws in recent years, including the Ensuring Likeness, Voice, and Image Security, or E.L.V.I.S. Act, which protects musicians' voices from the misuse of AI.

"The state of Tennessee, and working with Sen. Blackburn, got out in front of that around AI and started putting some regulations and laws to protect the property that these artists have created," Watson explained. "It’s really important that states defend their right to regulate this industry because it has a particular impact at the local level.”

The discussion follows a letter signed by 260 state lawmakers, including several from Tennessee, urging Congress to stop the moratorium.

The 'big, beautiful bill' was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives days before Memorial Day and now moves on to the Senate. President Trump hopes to have the bill on his desk by July 4.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/tennessee-politics/tennessee-senator-joins-national-push-against-federal-ban-on-state-ai-regulation/