Quick Take
- Utah Rep. Doug Fiefia co-chairs national AI task force targeting state-level governance gaps
- Senate stripped 10-year federal AI moratorium from GOP legislation after 7 weeks
- Task force connects Gen Z/millennial lawmakers with AI policy expertise nationwide
- Fiefia’s Google background plus HB418 data law success drives tech-policy bridge
- Applications now open for lawmakers seeking bipartisan AI governance frameworks
Future Caucus initiative emerges as federal AI regulation stalls, with bipartisan task force targeting state-level policy vacuum across America.
Utah State Representative Doug Fiefia is leading a significant national push to transform how states handle artificial intelligence governance. Working as co-chair of the National Task Force on State AI Policy, Fiefia teams up with Vermont’s Representative Monique Priestley to create effective AI governance structures nationwide.
The timing couldn’t be better. Just weeks back, the U.S. Senate removed a proposed 10-year federal ban on state AI laws from Republican legislation. The moratorium lost steam after seven weeks as GOP senators who originally insisted only federal government should regulate AI technology started backing away.
“This is a defining moment,” Fiefia emphasizes. “We can’t afford to let AI policy be divided by party or decided by default. As younger lawmakers, we have a unique opportunity to lead with balance and foresight.”
Federal Retreat Creates State Opportunity
This federal pullback leaves a gap that states need to fill. The Future Caucus says the task force’s main goal is fighting “partisan gridlock” that blocks important AI policy progress.
Fiefia brings strong credentials to this leadership position. His work experience at Google plus his push for data control laws puts him in a unique spot to connect technology and governance. During his first Utah legislative session, he championed HB418, breakthrough legislation requiring social media companies to allow better data interoperability.
This first-of-its-kind law gives users more power in digital ecosystems by making companies treat personal data like telecommunication companies handle phone numbers. The legislation lets social media users control their data better while requiring more data-sharing between platforms.
Expert Coalition Takes Shape
Priestley brings her own expertise with successful AI legislation in Vermont. She works on the National Conference of State Legislatures’ Task Force on Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Privacy.
“We’re creating a space where lawmakers can get informed and produce tech policies impacting their states,” Priestley asserts. “This is about translating complex AI issues into actionable governance strategies that serve constituents’ needs.”
The task force will link lawmakers with expert voices from industry, academia, and civil society. Plans include public discussions, confidential briefings, and creating a comprehensive Bipartisan State AI Policy Memo. This initiative serves as an important resource for Gen Z and millennial policymakers nationwide.
Business Impact and Strategic Implications
Effective state-level AI policies promise more predictable regulatory environments, helping innovation and operational efficiency. These frameworks could create competitive advantages for businesses that align early with strong, ethically-guided AI strategies.
The National Task Force on State AI Policy comes from Future Caucus, a nonpartisan nonprofit helping young elected leaders bridge partisan divides and advance collaborative governance. In environments where AI debates often become highly polarized or overly technical, the task force offers lawmakers and the public a practical, principled path forward.
Applications for the task force are now open to Gen Z and millennial lawmakers across the country. This represents the latest initiative from Future Caucus to equip emerging leaders with resources for effective governance in the AI age.
The formation shows a strategic shift in AI governance across the United States. Rather than waiting for federal action that may never come, states are taking proactive approaches to harness AI’s transformative potential while managing associated risks.
The task force will serve as a “national brain trust for responsible AI governance at the state level,” according to Future Caucus. This collaborative approach ensures AI policy development guided by effective governance rather than partisan gridlock.
As artificial intelligence reshapes industries and transforms business operations, the National Task Force on State AI Policy represents an important step toward balanced, forward-thinking governance. The collaboration between Fiefia and Priestley signals a new era of bipartisan cooperation on technology policy that could provide the regulatory clarity businesses need to invest confidently in AI innovation.
