NCOIL Pushes Back Against Trump’s AI Regulation Order: What It Means for Insurance Professionals

A sharp political and regulatory conflict has erupted as the National Council of Insurance Legislators (NCOIL) publicly challenges President Donald Trump’s executive order on artificial intelligence. The directive seeks to reduce state involvement in AI oversight—an approach NCOIL argues threatens the very structure of U.S. insurance governance.

In a strongly worded December 15 statement, NCOIL expressed that it was “greatly disturbed” by the attempt to centralize AI authority in Washington, suggesting it could weaken consumer protection and restrict states’ ability to maintain regulatory balance. Their stance is unmistakable: states must preserve the right to craft their own policy, especially in a period of political gridlock.

Why This Matters: The Longstanding State vs. Federal Tug‑of‑War

Insurance regulation has traditionally belonged to the states. Moving that authority to the federal level could disrupt markets, slow innovation, and complicate compliance. This isn’t the first time such concerns have surfaced—a decade‑long moratorium on state AI regulation was previously shot down by federal lawmakers following pushback from NCOIL and major insurance trade groups warning the moratorium would “wrongly curtail” state authority.

What the Executive Order Actually Says

The administration argues that inconsistent state‑level AI laws create confusion, ideological inconsistencies, and barriers to national commerce. To counter this, a new federal task force will evaluate and challenge any state AI regulations that clash with the administration’s unified direction.

According to the order, maintaining global AI leadership requires a “minimally burdensome national policy framework.”

What This Means for Insurance Professionals

AI regulation directly shapes how insurance professionals perform their work—particularly those involved in underwriting, claims automation, data modeling, and fraud prevention. Key impacts include:

• How companies calculate and communicate risk
• What consumer‑transparency rules must be followed
• How AI models must be tested, monitored, and audited
• How innovation is balanced against legal compliance

As new regulations emerge, staying educated is no longer optional—it’s a professional advantage and a compliance necessity.

Related Source & Further Reading

Original coverage from Insurance Journal:
State Insurance Legislators ‘Greatly Disturbed’ by Trump AI Regulation Order

Additional related reporting:
Federal Lawmakers Reject AI Regulation Moratorium
Insurance Industry Rejects Proposed Moratorium on AI Regulation