Trump Blocks Louisiana AI Bills by Threatening Broadband Funding

The administration of Donald Trump blocked at least a third of nearly 20 proposed artificial intelligence regulation bills in the Louisiana Legislature by threatening to withdraw federal broadband funding. Utilizing a December executive order and a March policy paper, the White House warned that funds from the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program would be pulled from states passing laws deemed onerous and excessive. The administration seeks a single nationwide policy structure to ensure American dominance in AI technology.

In response, Louisiana legislators halted or withdrew measures restricting AI use in health insurance denials, medical diagnoses, and employment decisions. State Representative Vincent Cox III withdrew bills regarding commercial likenesses and employment to protect rural broadband, while State Senator Jay Luneau paused health insurance regulations due to funding concerns. Governor Jeff Landry's office reportedly encouraged legislators to pull their bills, a trend also observed in Florida and Utah.

Despite these retreats, a bipartisan group of lawmakers continues to pursue restrictions on mental health chatbots and AI-generated political ads. The White House explicitly supports state laws focused on child safety; consequently, Louisiana has passed three bills banning AI-generated child pornography and the use of minors' images to train such AI.