Where every US governor stands on AI and the data-center boom

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey (R) has approached AI as an opportunity to improve government, but one that needs guardrails.

In 2024, she created a statewide generative AI task force to examine how it could be used within the state government, emphasizing both the usage of AI and transparency, privacy, and public safety.

“GenAI represents a monumental step forward in the potential for our state government to serve the public,” Ivey said in a 2024 statement. “However, its capabilities must first be studied carefully to ensure it is implemented in the most responsible and efficient manner possible.”

She is one of the few governors across the US who have taken a harder line on Chinese AI tools. In 2025, Ivey issued a ban on Chinese-affiliated artificial intelligence platforms DeepSeek and Manus from all state-owned devices and networks.

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R) has pitched the state as a potential hub for the AI boom and the computing infrastructure needed for it, arguing that Alaska has an “arctic advantage.”

Dunleavy has said he believes Alaska’s colder climate can significantly reduce the cost of cooling AI server racks, saying in late 2025 that an Alaskan 1-gigawatt campus could save operators up to $150 million annually in cooling costs compared to a warmer state.

Dunleavy has also said that data centers could be an economic driver for Alaska, particularly by creating more construction jobs across the state.

He frequently uses AI, too, incorporating certain tools into his work as governor, including using the technology during meetings.

Katie Hobbs (D), Arizona’s governor up for reelection, has largely framed AI as an economic opportunity that the state needs to prepare for, rather than turn away from.

Hobbs has said she does not support a moratorium, which is a temporary pause, on new data-center development. At the same time, she has pushed for more structure around AI.

Her administration created the state’s first AI steering committee in 2025 and launched an AI government tool in 2026, and she has described the goal as ensuring AI strengthens rather than undermines the state’s economy.

“Arizona has built one of the strongest AI ecosystems in the country, and our community colleges help power it,” Hobbs wrote in a January 22 post on X.

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R), who is up for reelection, has said she believes AI has the potential to strengthen government efficiency, but it requires proper policies and regulations.

“AI is changing how we work, interact, and find information — and Arkansas can’t afford to be left behind,” she wrote in a statement in February following a new state AI effectiveness and safety report.

The report, which was completed by an AI working group that Sanders launched in 2024, found that AI could help the state improve Medicaid and SNAP programs and expand other digital services.

Earlier this year, she also joined RAISE US, a national artificial intelligence initiative launched by former Indiana governor Eric Holcomb and former US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. The initiative intends to partner with governors, employers, workers and training organizations to help the workforce transition to an AI economy.

She was one of several politicians who urged Congress to remove the AI regulatory moratorium from the One, Big, Beautiful Bill in 2025.

California’s Gavin Newsom (D) has moved from a more cautious approach to AI regulation toward some of the most aggressive AI-safety proposals in the country.

After vetoing an AI safety bill in 2024, Newsom has since signed legislation creating independent oversight and auditing requirements on AI systems.

Now, Newsom is backing the idea of an AI “kill switch,” which would be an emergency shutoff for frontier AI models, as part of a September executive order. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has proposed a similar idea.

Newsom has also directed experts to consider independent verification of AI companies’ safety systems, arguing that California should move ahead even as federal action remains limited.

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) signed Senate Bill 24-205 in 2024, making Colorado the first state to enact a comprehensive consumer-protection law aimed at protecting consumers from AI-driven algorithmic discrimination in areas such as employment, housing, education, and healthcare.

That bill was later repealed by Polis this year, however. In his repeal, he narrowed the state’s framework by mandating specific transparency, documentation, and consumer rights when automated tools “materially influence” consequential decisions.

The new bill will take effect on January 1, 2027.

Polis has also shown some support for a federal moratorium on state AI laws restricting artificial intelligence, according to a 2025 Bloomberg article.

Ned Lamont (D), governor of Connecticut and up for reelection, signed a bipartisan AI bill earlier this year addressing youth online safety.

Lamont’s approach is focused on preparing people to work alongside AI rather than restricting its use. He’s also invested in workforce training designed to help Connecticut workers compete for jobs in the tech market: In February, he launched the third phase of the state’s Tech Talent Accelerator, a program that aims to expand AI education and workforce training.

Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer (D) has sought to make the state a place where companies can experiment with AI without abandoning regulation.

In 2025, he signed legislation launching an AI regulatory sandbox where companies can test AI technologies under government oversight, particularly in corporate governance, health care, biotechnology and financial services.

Meyer has described the sandbox as a way to combine innovation with transparency and public trust.

“This initiative creates space for visionaries and risk-takers to responsibly test cutting-edge artificial intelligence technologies in Delaware—prioritizing transparency, public trust, and thoughtful oversight,” he wrote in a statement.

Ron DeSantis (R), Florida’s governor, has pushed for protections around AI rather than banning the technology or leaving it unregulated.

His proposed AI Bill of Rights in late 2025 included data-privacy protections, parental controls, consumer disclosures and restrictions on using someone’s name, image or likeness without consent.

“The AI Bill of Rights defends consumers, medical patients, and families in Florida from the potential harms of artificial intelligence applications,” he wrote on X in March. “It is especially important that we protect the most vulnerable among us: our children.”

Regarding data centers, DeSantis signed a bill earlier this year that would prevent residents from bearing the costs of hyperscale data centers through utility bills and give local governments more authority over where those facilities are built.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) sees AI as an economic opportunity the state cannot afford to ignore.

He has backed the expansion of data centers and has positioned Georgia as a potential hub for the country’s AI infrastructure, meeting directly with OpenAI and Georgia Power in July to discuss OpenAI’s activity in the state, sites of interest, jobs, and investment commitments.

Much of his approach has focused on building the electricity and infrastructure needed to attract AI investment to the state.

Hawaii Gov. Josh Green (D), up for reelection, has taken a cautious approach to AI.

In July, he signed legislation establishing new safety measures for it — particularly surrounding ‘deepfakes’, which imitate one’s voice and face — saying AI presents “fascinating opportunities” but that the state needs to be intentional about recognizing its potential dangers.

Idaho Gov. Brad Little (R), who is up for reelection, has focused heavily on preparing students for an AI-driven economy.

In March, his administration launched a partnership with Microsoft, Micron and other technology companies to teach K-12 students and teachers how to adopt AI into the classroom.

While Micron will teach teachers how to use AI, Microsoft will provide AI literacy programs and its chatbot, Copilot, for all students over 13 and teachers.

JB Pritzker, Illinois’ governor up for reelection, views artificial intelligence as a transformative tool that also poses severe, existential risks to humanity.

“It’s time to sound the alarm — louder — on reining in Artificial Intelligence,” Pritzker wrote in an early September statement. “It’s becoming more clear the threat AI poses to humanity, so I’m calling for immediate action from the industry and Washington. When AI researchers are whistleblowing, we need to listen.”

His statement urged a stop to Big Tech’s lobbying against safety, Congressional hearings on AI safety, and more.

Pritzker also established an AI cabinet in September to assess the various safety risks posed by AI.

Mike Braun (R), Indiana’s governor, views AI as an economic opportunity to boost wages, create jobs, and to position Indiana as a leader in AI’s adoption.

In April, he launched an initiative titled IN AI to help Indiana businesses understand where AI can improve their work, how to access and use different AI tools, and where to find employees across the state who understand the technology.

He has publicly cautioned against building data centers in the state that drain Indiana’s water resources.

The state is home to two large data-center projects in the US, however, housing Meta’s data center that is expected to deliver 1 gigawatt of capacity and span 1,500 acres in Lebanon, as well as Google’s Fort Wayne Data Center, which will require up to 1.2 gigawatts of power at full build-out.

In February, Iowa’s Gov. Kim Reynolds banned DeepSeek and RedNote, two Chinese-owned apps, from state devices. She also prohibited all state agencies from subscribing to or having an account on either app.

Reynolds has shown a focus on how to responsibly adopt AI, signing an Act in May that regulates AI chatbots, particularly for minors. One of the regulations in the Act provides disclaimers at the beginning of each chat and once every three hours.

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly (D) supports a regulated approach to AI that balances the innovation it brings.

In August, Kelly told the Topeka Capital-Journal that there needs to be guardrails around data center construction and the water and energy use associated with them.

In August 2023, she created an AI policy that requires reviews of accuracy, appropriateness, privacy, and security before any action is taken or information is shared.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) is an advocate for federal oversight and regulation of AI to balance its benefits with risks such as national security and job displacement.

He signed an executive order in August to mitigate the potential environmental and cost impacts of data centers. Specifically, the order requires the companies building the data centers to submit a plan to the state’s Energy and Environment Cabinet detailing how they will cover their full energy costs.

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry (R) also views AI as a way to drive economic growth, but said it poses security and utility cost risks.

In June, Landry issued an executive order requiring data centers seeking state sales-tax breaks to protect ratepayers from higher electricity costs, unless the state determines the project’s other benefits outweigh the higher electricity costs.

In 2025, Landry, like Iowa’s governor, also signed an executive order banning China’s DeepSeek across all state agencies.

“As technology advances, so do the threats,” he wrote in a statement. “This executive order ensures we are protecting our people, our data, and our national security from the CCP’s growing influence in AI.”

The state is home to one of the largest planned data centers in the US, housing Meta’s Hyperion AI data center, a more than $50 billion investment that will span more than 3,600 acres and is planned to deliver 5 gigawatts of capacity once fully developed.

Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) has taken a more cautious approach toward the growing AI industry.

This year, Mills vetoed a bipartisan bill that would have placed a temporary pause on data center construction requiring 20 or more megawatts of power. She’s also said she supported a federal moratorium if it had exempted a specific project that she believed could bring jobs to Maine.

In June 2025, Mills signed a bill that bans companies from using chatbots without clear disclosure. The bill also added AI-generated deepfakes to the state’s revenge porn laws.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D), who is up for reelection, signed an executive order in early September that relieves locals of the costs of the centers’ energy usage, includes environmental protection efforts and AI job training, and establishes a “public dashboard” where locals can express their input on the centers.

Moore’s executive order also established the Maryland Data Center Task Force, which will review data center projects, maintain a public data center dashboard, and more.

“My fear is a technology that no human being can control,” Moore told MS NOW reporters in late September. “We’ve got to understand that delicate balance of cooperation and competition. As a governor, I’m very competitive with my other governors. But I do understand that there are places where the focus is cooperation and not competition.”

Maura Healey (D), Massachusetts’ governor up for reelection, has argued that AI shouldn’t advance faster than the government can protect people from its risks. In September, Healey called for federal action to strengthen AI guardrails and oversight that both allow for innovation and protect national security.

Like Moore, Healey’s administration has also created a state AI task force. The state’s task force, created in 2024, also includes a $100 million Applied AI Hub that studies how to apply AI to advance Massachusetts’ life sciences, healthcare, financial services, advanced manufacturing, robotics, and education sectors.

“AI has enormous potential to drive scientific discovery, strengthen key industries, improve public services, and create new opportunities for businesses and residents across Massachusetts,” Gov. Healey wrote in a September press release. “At the same time, the rapid pace of AI development raises serious concerns about safety, accountability, privacy, civil rights, the future of work, and public trust.”

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) has welcomed data center construction, such as Oracle and OpenAI’s project in Saline Township, but with guidelines.

Her July action plan ensures that data center companies pay construction and operation costs, strengthen and safeguard the state’s electric grid and natural resources, and are accountable for their development.

“It’s simple: any data center company that wants to invest in Michigan must ensure working families do not pay a single penny for data center development or operations, protect our natural resources, and create local, good-paying jobs,” Whitmer wrote in a press release.

Michigan is home to The Barn, a $16 billion, 1.4-gigawatt data-center campus in Saline Township that Related Digital is building for Oracle and OpenAI as part of the Stargate project.

Tim Walz (D), Minnesota’s governor, signed a law in May prohibiting access to “nudification” technology that can generate fake nude images of real people.

“This bill makes clear that using technology to create fake, non-consensual intimate images is unacceptable and puts Minnesota at the forefront of addressing the harms of AI while protecting people from exploitation and abuse,” Walz wrote in a press release.

The law echoes Walz’s broader approach to AI, which encourages its development while drawing lines around any usage that threatens privacy or safety, specifically for children.

In May 2023, he also signed a state law that regulates and restricts the use of deepfakes in political campaigns.

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves (R) signed a memorandum of understanding with NVIDIA in June 2025 to promote AI education, workforce integration, and research collaboration.

His focus is on ensuring Mississippi’s workforce can use AI effectively; in May, he launched a statewide AI framework that centers on equipping students and workers with skills in ethical reasoning and AI-related cybersecurity awareness.

During a Sept. 30 Federalist Society conversation, Reeves emphasized that Mississippi works efficiently at cutting deals with companies, particularly AI and data center companies, highlighting the state’s $20 billion partnership with xAI was expected to launch only a few weeks after making the deal.

“So many states around the country start at no and give you the burden to ultimately get to yes…” Reeves said. “…We start at yes, and as we navigate our way through it, we’ve got very seasoned, talented people who run our economic development shop.”

In May, Mike Kehoe (R), Missouri’s governor, announced that Google will invest $15 billion into data center construction in New Florence, a rural town in central Missouri.

Kehoe also signed an executive order in January that allows for growth in data centers and Missouri’s use in AI, while calling on economic and natural resources directors to study how AI could impact the local workforce and citizens’ energy bills.

The state is home to one of the largest planned data centers in the US, Nebius’ AI Factory, which will reach a capacity of up to 1.2 gigawatts.

Greg Gianforte (R), Montana’s governor and a former software entrepreneur who founded RightNow Technologies, later acquired by Oracle, has approached AI from a business perspective.

In 2025, he signed Montana’s Right to Compute Act, which established legal protections for businesses’ use of AI, limiting the government’s interference in their use. He also launched 406 JOBS in 2025, a workforce program aimed at modernizing the state’s workforce.

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen (R), up for reelection, like several other governors, has expressed that locals shouldn’t front the bill for energy costs stemming from data centers.

In July, Pillen ended access to certain state tax incentives for data centers and created a task force to examine their impact on water, electricity, and local infrastructure.

“Early in my administration, I called for a pause in building new data centers, and this executive order is consistent with that call,” Pillen wrote in a press release. “Data centers are a booming industry. Major tech companies are pouring hundreds of billions of dollars into them. And while that presents significant economic opportunity, it also presents resource challenges.”

Joe Lombardo (R), Nevada’s governor up for reelection, has emphasized the economic opportunity AI data centers bring for the state.

In September, he signed an executive order requiring data center developers to cover project-related energy costs. The order also aims to support public schools and protect the state’s water resources.

Lombardo has said he supports data centers because they bring jobs, investment, and economic growth to the state.

“At the same time, we have to put the right parameters in place to ensure they don’t raise costs on Nevada residents or businesses,” he wrote in a May Facebook post. “As Governor, I’m focused on growing our economy responsibly while protecting rates for families.”

New Hampshire Gov. Kelly Ayotte (R), who is up for reelection, has shown skepticism toward data centers due to the amount of energy they require.

In August, Ayotte said she supported a moratorium on data centers, arguing that New Hampshire does not have enough energy capacity to support them without hiking up electricity costs. She also said she is opposed to a potential data center being built in Bow, a small town in central New Hampshire.

In September, New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill (D) issued a $1.07 million fine to the DataOne data center in Vineland, holding that the data center violated the New Jersey Air Pollution Control Act by installing and operating 62 large natural-gas power generators without Department of Environmental Protection permits.

“Data centers will pay their fair share for energy, be accountable for their water and energy use, protect our environment, create good-paying union jobs, and invest in communities,” Sherrill wrote on a social media post.

She has signed legislation requiring data centers to report their electricity and water consumption to the Board of Public Utilities every six months, and also has expressed that AI instruction should be embedded into New Jersey’s education programs.

In 2025, Michelle Lujan Grisham (D), New Mexico’s governor, announced a $1 billion partnership with Meta on a new geothermal plant for the company’s data center. Geothermal energy, which is considered a green power source, taps heat beneath Earth’s surface to generate electricity; it can also be used directly for heating and cooling.

The $1 billion investment will create 3,000 construction jobs and 100 jobs running the geothermal power plant. New Mexico touts 22 data centers — one of which is Project Jupiter, one of the largest in the US.

The state is home to one of the largest planned data centers in the US, Stargate’s Project Jupiter, which could include up to 2.45 gigawatts of Bloom Energy fuel cells, replacing an earlier proposal centered on gas turbines and diesel generators.

Kathy Hochul (D), New York’s governor up for reelection, like California Gov. Gavin Newsom, is exploring an AI “kill switch” that would shut off AI systems in a critical event.

In late December 2025, she signed the RAISE Act, which requires AI developers to create and publish information about their safety protocols and to report incidents to the state government within 72 hours of an incident.

Under the law, New York’s Attorney General can bring civil actions against developers who fail to submit reports, with penalties rising up to $1 million for the first violation and up to $3 million for subsequent violations.

Hochul also issued an executive order imposing a one-year moratorium on large-scale AI data centers in July to evaluate and address their environmental and community impact.

North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein (D), like many governors, has approached AI as both an economic opportunity and a policy challenge.

His administration’s AI Strategic Roadmap, launched in July, aims to protect locals from any harm AI might cause, prepare workers for AI-related changes, and use AI to improve government work.

In a speech announcing the roadmap, Stein said AI can help with government efficiency, such as scanning outdated documents and answering residents’ questions, but also emphasized the need to address the risks that come with its usage.

Kelly Armstrong (R), North Dakota’s governor, signed legislation in 2025 that limits the role of AI in certain health-care decisions, requiring licensed physicians, rather than algorithms, to make final decisions in some cases.

Armstrong also sees AI as an economic opportunity, holding that North Dakota’s natural-gas industry could help supply the energy data centers need.

Similar to Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy, Armstrong believes the state’s colder climate can allow AI and data center companies to lower their cooling costs.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) said in September that the federal government should enact regulations on AI, not the states.

“Look, as far as AI, this really needs to come from the federal government,” DeWine said at an event in New Albany, near Columbus. “We need to have uniformity, not just in this country; we need to have uniformity in the world. So, I would certainly hope we can see some uniformity coming out of Washington.”

In May, he also paused new applications for data center tax exemptions amid growing scrutiny of the state’s incentives and the costs associated with large facilities.

According to the governor, in 2025, data centers that had been granted sales and use tax benefits in the state reported a total capital investment of $27.2 billion.

The state is home to one of the largest planned data centers in the US, housing Nvidia-backed project PORTS-Pike Technology Campus, which is expected to include up to 10 gigawatts of data-center capacity.

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) created an AI task force in 2023 to study how the technology could improve government efficiency, education, and workforce development, and has repeatedly described Oklahoma as a potential AI hub.

Stitt’s task force was completed in 2024 and recommended five ways the state can implement AI into its workforce and government, largely by creating oversight, economic, digital, and talent workforce committees that encourage the use of AI across sectors.

“Oklahoma is poised to lead the nation in implementation of artificial intelligence technology, and we have to capitalize on the momentum. Oklahoma truly could be the AI capital of the nation,” Stitt wrote in a 2024 press release.

Like other governors, he aims to protect ratepayers from increasing energy costs related to data centers, but also has stated that he supports the construction of data centers, highlighting property rights and the free market.

Oregon’s Tina Kotek (D), who is up for reelection, has said states cannot wait for federal action on AI.

In September, Kotek issued an executive order similar to those of California Gov. Gavin Newsom and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, directing the state to assess the viability of a “kill switch” requirement for frontier AI models.

“It’s encouraging to hear AI companies are beginning to come forward with proposals to address safety concerns, but we cannot simply wait for the private sector to self-regulate a technology that poses such an existential and evolving risk,” Kotek wrote in a press release.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D), up for reelection, said at a September AI Horizons Summit that he sees AI’s potential to improve productivity and public services, but argued that the technology needs stronger guardrails.

“I want to be clear: I am not a doomer,” he said at the summit. “I don’t think it is inevitable that AI is going to take over the world or that someone will misuse it to kill us or do harm.”

He also cracked down on data centers in August, saying that data center proposals are scaring and changing the character of Pennsylvania communities.

Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee (D) created an AI task force and Center of Excellence for AI and Data in 2024, both in an effort to study how AI could increase government efficiency and improve public services.

“Rhode Island recognizes that the rise of AI technology will enhance future government operations and change the way we do business,” McKee wrote in a press release. “Rather than simply react to the changes in the information technology landscape, I want Rhode Island to be a leader as this field evolves.”

Beginning in early 2024, Henry McMaster (R), South Carolina’s governor, was the chair of the Southern Regional Education Board Commission on Artificial Intelligence in Education.

In his role, McMaster convened with other education and business leaders to chart a course for the use of AI in classrooms and to prepare the workforce for the technology.

“When used correctly, AI is a powerful tool capable of reshaping our education system,” McMaster wrote. “By working together, we can overcome the challenges that AI presents and harness its power to ensure our students are prepared for the workforce of the future.”

In general, McMaster is cautious toward rushing into government regulation on AI, arguing that politicians do not have a complete understanding yet of its benefits and drawbacks.

Regarding his view on data centers, McMaster said in late September that he does not plan to call for a statewide data center moratorium.

The state houses three of Google’s data centers, which opened in 2007. In 2024, the company announced it would establish two new data center campuses in the state, a combined investment of $3.3 billion.

“Google’s latest investment will strengthen South Carolina’s position as an emerging leader in technology and innovation,” McMaster wrote in a statement.

South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden (R), who is up for reelection, has also banned Chinese apps from state devices.

In 2025, Rhoden signed a bill making it a Class 1 misdemeanor to disseminate an undisclosed deepfake intended to injure a candidate within 90 days of an election, punishable by up to a year in jail, a $2,000 fine, or both.

He is one of several governors who signed a bill that protects residents from increased utility costs caused by data centers.

Bill Lee (R), Tennessee’s governor, signed the ELVIS Act — Ensuring Likeness Voice and Image Security Act — in 2024 to protect musicians from being cloned or replicated by AI without consent.

Tennessee was the first state in the US to legally protect artists and musicians from deepfakes. Lee also signed a bill earlier this year that prohibits AI developers from falsely posing as qualified mental health professionals.

The state is home to one of the largest planned data centers in the US, xAI’s Colossus 2, which powers Grok, the AI chatbot on X, and is expected to deliver 1.5 gigawatts in capacity.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R), up for reelection, has shifted his views toward AI over the past year.

Less than a year ago, Abbott welcomed the plethora of Big Tech companies constructing data centers across the state, calling Texas the “epicenter of AI development.”

But with growing backlash toward the uptick in electric and water costs for locals, Abbott has shifted his perspective on data centers, saying that the companies building them “dug their own grave” by failing to also build community support.

In August, Abbott announced that OpenAI would comply with his established data center guidelines, including not passing on costs to Texans or interfering with their quality of life.

The state houses several of the US’ largest planned data centers, including Meta’s El Paso data center and Fermi America’s Project Matador, the latter pursuing up to 17 gigawatts of private power.

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (R) called on Congress in September to establish guidelines on AI, including mandatory reporting of major safety incidents, whistleblower protections for tech employees, independent safety evaluations for models, and restrictions on the sale of advanced AI chips to China.

“We can build the world’s most advanced AI here in America while ensuring it remains firmly in service of humanity,” Cox wrote on X.

In May, he issued an order establishing a “higher bar” for future data center projects following public backlash against his support for a project near Salt Lake City. The order requires greater transparency and protections for water, air quality, the Great Salt Lake, local communities, and utility customers.

Vermont Gov. Phil Scott (R), who is up for reelection, is one of many governors who established a task force to assess how AI might shape the state’s economy.

In June, Scott’s administration partnered with Anthropic through Vermont’s Agency of Digital Services to test state IT systems for security vulnerabilities. The agreement gives the state $100,000 in credits for Claude Code, Anthropic’s AI tool.

He also signed legislation requiring disclosure of deceptive and fraudelent AI-generated content used in election campaigns within 90 days of an election.

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger is one of several governors who believe states should lead on AI risk assessments rather than wait for Washington to act.

“The federal government needs to play a much larger role in regulating this emerging technology to ensure its safe development and the protection of people and their livelihoods,” Spanberger wrote in September.

She created a state AI Task Force in September to examine workforce displacement, data privacy, cybersecurity, and ways existing laws can address AI-related harms.

Regarding data centers, Virginia has the largest data market in the US with over 100,000 jobs and over $40 billion in investments, according to the Northern Virginia Technology Council.

Spanberger recently unveiled a Data Center Accountability Framework, requiring centers to pay their own transmission costs, strengthen environmental and water-use protections, and give communities more input on proposed developments.

Bob Ferguson (D), Washington’s governor, has expressed concern over children’s safety when using AI.

Earlier this year, he signed legislation that requires disclosures that people are interacting with AI, safeguards around self-harm content, and protections for minors from sexually explicit conversations.

Ferguson also signed a bill that requires covered AI providers to include provenance data in AI-generated or materially altered images, video, and audio.

West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey (R) has said he views the state as a “powerhouse” for AI and cloud computing, announcing earlier this year that Penzance Management will invest $4 billion in an AI campus in Berkeley County, about 75 miles northwest of Washington, DC.

“By earning the state’s first High Impact Intelligence Center designation, Penzance is helping us transform the Mountain State into a powerhouse for artificial intelligence and cloud computing,” he wrote in a statement. “This project brings a massive new revenue stream to our communities – all driven by private capital and our commitment to a business-friendly, reliable energy strategy.”

Morrisey has also supported AI health tools that reduce administrative work for rural providers.

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D) has focused his approach toward AI on how it affects the workforce.

In 2023, he created the Governor’s Task Force on Workforce and Artificial Intelligence to assess how the technology could reshape Wisconsin jobs, skills, and key industries. Its 2024 action plan focused on preparing workers and institutions for an AI-driven economy.

He has also welcomed data center projects, saying they can be built while still protecting the environment and the local communities.

Mark Gordon (R), Wyoming’s governor, sees AI as an opportunity to grow the state’s economy, especially through data centers and advanced computing.

Earlier this year, he issued “Data Centers the Wyoming Way,” an executive order intended to create a statewide framework for data-center development, including its energy, water, and community impacts.

“While other states hit the pause button out of political fear, we are choosing action and collaboration,” Gov. Gordon wrote in a statement to Business Insider. “We are proving America’s digital infrastructure can be built the Wyoming Way.”