Colorado lawmakers from both parties are pushing for new AI safeguards, citing what one Democrat called a "new and dangerous era" for the technology. The bipartisan urgency reflects growing public alarm over AI's catastrophic risks and a rare opening for Congress to act on regulation.
"There's something in the world that now scares me more than Donald Trump," U.S. Rep. Brittany Pettersen (D-Lakewood) said in a statement about AI. Pettersen is calling for stronger industry standards, including independent audits and mandatory incident reporting.
Calls for oversight and standards
Democratic U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper co-introduced bipartisan legislation last year aimed at developing standards for how AI systems are built and tested. He also urged the White House to confront the technology's risks. U.S. Rep. Jason Crow (D-Aurora) stressed the need for protections around privacy and national security.
U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet questioned whether Congress can move quickly enough. "Unfortunately, Congress will never be able to move fast enough to do so," Bennet said. He proposed creating an independent agency for rule-making and oversight of AI and other platforms. This debate directly affects how AI for Government roles will evolve as agencies prepare for new compliance requirements.
Republican priorities diverge on approach
Across the aisle, U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans (R-Fort Lupton) backed legislation calling for "common sense guardrails" to protect consumers. The House passed a bill Evans led Wednesday aimed at curbing AI data center costs. His approach also underscores a broader divide over what AI rules should look like. Another bill Evans supports promotes American-developed AI models while urging federal officials to scrutinize models from foreign adversaries.
U.S. Rep. Jeff Crank (R-Colorado Springs) put the onus on AI companies, calling for "safety nets" on product development to protect the economy and national security. U.S. Reps. Lauren Boebert (R-Windsor), Jeff Hurd (R-Grand Junction) and Joe Neguse (D-Lafayette) did not respond to requests for comment.
Why this matters for government professionals
The push for AI guardrails in Colorado signals what federal and state agencies should expect: a patchwork of new compliance mandates, reporting requirements, and oversight structures. For AI for Policy Makers, the split between lawmakers who want an independent federal agency and those who prefer industry self-regulation means the final framework remains uncertain. Agency leaders and policy staff must track these competing bills closely - procurement rules, data center cost controls, and foreign model restrictions could reshape how government buys and deploys AI tools within the next budget cycle.
Your membership also unlocks:
