Updated February 25, 2025: FPF no longer coordinates the Multistate AI Policymaker Working Group

Updated February 25, 2025: FPF no longer coordinates the MAP-WG.  Please read here for more information.

Future of Privacy Forum Convened Over 200 State Lawmakers in AI Policy Working Group Focused on 2025 Legislative Sessions

The Multistate AI Policymaker Working Group (MAP-WG) was convened by FPF to help state lawmakers from more than 45 states to collaborate on emerging technologies and related policy issues.

OCTOBER 21, 2024 — In the lead-up to the 2025 legislative session, FPF is excited to convene the expanded Multistate AI Policymaker Working Group (MAP-WG)—a bipartisan coalition of over 200 state lawmakers from more than 45 states, and highlight the group’s resources in a new dedicated landing page. This lawmaker-led initiative, facilitated by FPF, enables legislators to collaborate on developing a shared understanding of emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, and to coordinate on related policy issues. In anticipation of significant state-level AI legislation in 2025, the group is expanding its efforts and launching a dedicated landing page (fpf.org/multistateAI) to centrally share its purpose, key resources, and insights with a broader audience. 

In the absence of a comprehensive federal law regulating data privacy or AI, state lawmakers are quickly moving forward with local legislation in response to the rapid advances in AI. This has led to questions about how to best craft appropriate, consistent protections for individuals. The MAP-WG seeks to navigate these challenges by fostering collaboration and promoting better understanding of AI technologies. 

FPF serves as a neutral convenor and is proud to be a trusted source of nonpartisan, practical expertise and support. While the group primarily focuses on artificial intelligence, its scope extends to related areas such as data privacy, enforcement, regulation, AI workforce development, and combating non-consensual intimate images.

“To foster better communication, idea-sharing, and support among state legislators, FPF is excited to convene and assist this group,” said Tatiana Rice, FPF’s Deputy Director for U.S. Legislation. “As a forum that brings together industry, academics, consumer advocates, and civil society to discuss emerging technologies and privacy protections, FPF is uniquely positioned to support the group’s mission of promoting the safe and equitable use of AI. We are thrilled to now provide a public resource dedicated to this vital collaboration.” 

Participation in the MAP-WG is open to any U.S. state-level senator, representative, or public official, and current staff members. FPF serves as a neutral facilitator of the group. Meetings include open sessions with the participation of outside experts, and closed sessions reserved for lawmakers and staff.

The MAP-WG’s bipartisan steering committee, chaired by Connecticut Senator James Maroney (D), collaborates to decide the topics and agenda.

Other members of the lawmaker steering committee include:

• Alaska Senator Shelley Hughes (R)
• California Privacy Protection Agency Deputy Director of Policy and Legislation Maureen Mahoney 
• Colorado Senator Robert Rodriguez (D)
• Florida Representative Fiona McFarland (R)
• Maryland Senator Katie Fry Hester (D)
• Minnesota Representative Steve Elkins (D)
• Minnesota Representative Kristin Bahner (D)
• New York Senator Kristen Gonzalez (D)
• Texas Representative Giovanni Capriglione (R)
• Virginia Delegate Michelle Maldonado (D) 

Learn more about the work of the Multistate AI Policymaker Working Group here.

FPF Clarifies Non-Partisan State Work

In recent weeks, some critics opposed to state AI legislation have made inaccurate claims about FPF on social media and other forums.  I am writing to set the record straight.

FPF is an independent think tank that works with companies and policymakers to help find pragmatic solutions to support the benefits of emerging technologies, including AI. We facilitate expert, bipartisan conversations, and we are optimistic about the benefits of data use when safeguarded by pragmatic protections. FPF does not work to import European-style regulation into US states. We agree with Vice President JD Vance’s recent remarks that this model will not work for the United States. American leadership on AI is necessary, with US companies succeeding and winning against China.

FPF is not partisan. Our credibility as an honest convenor and thought leader is crucial to serving as a bridge between lawmakers, companies, and other experts. We are proud of the fact that over 90% of our funding comes from the private sector. The government grants referenced in a recent op-ed do not fund the Multistate AI Policymaker Working Group. These contracts support training in support of cross-border data flows and efforts to advance privacy enhancing technologies, which are often essential to accessing data sets that are otherwise unavailable. FPF has neither sought nor received grant support for our work facilitating the multistate group or for other work regarding state legislation.

The multistate group is bipartisan.  Lawmakers drive the agenda and discussion, and FPF served as a neutral facilitator. We did not play any role in the Texas AI bill sponsored by Rep. Giovanni Capriglione (R-TX) nor have we taken a position on it. In fact, Rep. Capriglione worked with the Texas Public Policy Foundation on crafting the bill — a well-known conservative group that was previously led by President Donald J. Trump’s Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins. 

At a recent Texas Public Policy Foundation event, Rep. Capriglione described the extensive local engagement process and local hearings he held to take input as he drafted a bill to respond to his Texas stakeholders’ concerns about AI. While lawmakers may choose to pursue different paths to legislating, the multistate group created a platform to find common ground about AI, mitigating a potential patchwork of conflicting and discordant AI laws that would be confusing for consumers and difficult to comply with. This is particularly important in the absence of a federal standard.

FPF greatly values the trust of stakeholders across the political spectrum. We do not want misperceptions about the Multistate AI Policymaker Working Group to create any misperceptions about the larger mission of FPF and our non-partisan role. As a result, we will be withdrawing from our work supporting the Working Group. We believe that Republicans and Democrats can find common ground and solutions to address issues raised by emerging technologies. FPF will continue to be non-partisan and fully transparent in our work.