// ai policy & safety
A dated, sourced timeline of AI laws signed by US states since 2024, with what each covers and when it takes effect. It also covers the federal orders and bills that seek to preempt them.
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25 entries from 30 sources. Checked for news weekly; last checked
This tracker follows artificial intelligence laws that US states have enacted, alongside the main federal efforts to limit or override them. The state laws run from Utah's March 2024 Artificial Intelligence Policy Act to California's September 2026 signings. The tracker is selective. The National Conference of State Legislatures counted around 100 AI measures adopted or enacted across 38 states in 2025 sessions. That tally was last updated July 10, 2025.
An entry is added when a governor signs a bill that sets rules for how AI is built, sold or used in the private sector. That includes broad statutes on frontier models (the most advanced AI systems), hiring and chatbots. It also includes narrower ones, such as Minnesota's ban on services that nudify images of identifiable people. An entry is also added for a concrete federal move on preemption, meaning federal law displacing state law. That covers an executive order, a vote in Congress, a bill introduced there or an agency action. Each entry gives the signing date, what the law covers and, where the source states it, the effective date. Future dates fixed in statute are marked as scheduled.
Left out: state bills that are pending, vetoed or passed but not signed. Laws aimed mainly at government use of AI, election deepfakes or data centers are also left out. So are agency rulemaking and court cases. Summaries describe each measure as signed unless a later change is noted. They are not legal advice.
Targets set by the organizations named. Dates like these often move.
Scheduled
This date is set in SB 947, signed September 30, 2026. Employers will be barred from relying solely on an automated decision system to discipline or fire a worker. They must give written notice when they relied mainly on one. Each violation carries a $500 civil penalty.
Source: Bill Text - SB-947 Employment: automated decision systems., California Legislative Information
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed 13 bills that his office presented as strengthening the state's AI framework. They cover automated employment decisions (SB 947), notice of layoffs caused by AI (SB 951), workplace surveillance and AI in health care. They also cover changes to the California AI Transparency Act (SB 1000).
The governor approved SB 1119. From July 1, 2027, operators must complete a child-safety risk assessment before releasing a new or substantially modified companion chatbot. A first independent audit is due by January 1, 2029. Public prosecutors and harmed children or their parents may sue.
Source: Bill Text - SB-1119 Companion chatbots: children’s safety., California Legislative Information
The governor approved SB 813. It directs the Government Operations Agency to set, by January 1, 2028, application rules and criteria for designating independent verification organizations. These are AI auditors with demonstrated expertise in assessing AI risks. SB 813 does not require developers to use one.
Source: Bill Text - SB-813 Independent verification organizations., California Legislative Information
Rep. Jay Obernolte introduced H.R. 9925 to set federal oversight of frontier AI. It would bar states from adopting or enforcing new obligations on AI developers in three areas: risk transparency, third-party audits and incident reporting. As of October 6, 2026, it remained in committee.
Source: Text - H.R.9925 - 119th Congress (2025-2026): FRONTIER Act, Congress.gov (Library of Congress)
The governor approved SB 315, the Artificial Intelligence Safety Measures Act (Public Act 104-0538). Large frontier developers must publish a frontier AI framework, report critical safety incidents and undergo annual independent third-party audits. It takes effect January 1, 2027.
Source: Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status of SB0315, Illinois General Assembly
The governor signed SB26-189, which repeals and reenacts the 2024 law's provisions. From January 1, 2027, developers of automated tools that materially influence consequential decisions must give deployers technical documentation. Consumers gain notice, data correction and human review rights.
Source: SB26-189 Automated Decision-Making Technology, Colorado General Assembly
The governor approved HF 1606 (Chapter 72). Websites, apps and other services may not let users alter or generate realistic images or video showing an identifiable person's intimate parts. The attorney general may seek penalties of up to $500,000 per unlawful use. It took effect August 1, 2026.
The governor signed S8828 as Chapter 96. This chapter amendment repeals the original RAISE Act provisions. It sets a new transparency regime for frontier AI developers, including reporting critical safety incidents within 72 hours. It changes the law's effective date to January 1, 2027.
Source: NY State Senate Bill 2025-S8828, New York State Senate
The Trump administration published a legislative framework with six objectives, from protecting children to workforce training, and asked Congress to turn it into law. The release said the plan depends on uniform national application and that differing state laws would harm US innovation.
Source: President Donald J. Trump Unveils National AI Legislative Framework, The White House
CBS News reported that Attorney General Pam Bondi told Justice Department staff an AI Litigation Task Force would challenge state AI laws. The statement came in an internal memo, which CBS News reviewed. Grounds cited included unconstitutional regulation of interstate commerce and override by federal regulations.
Source: DOJ creates task force to challenge state AI regulations, CBS News
Gov. Kathy Hochul signed the RAISE Act (S6953B/A6453B) with agreed changes to follow. Her office said large AI developers must publish safety protocols and report incidents within 72 hours. It said a new Department of Financial Services office oversees this, with fines up to $1 million for a first violation.
Executive Order 14365 told the attorney general to form, within 30 days, an AI Litigation Task Force to challenge state AI laws. It gave the Commerce Department 90 days to list state laws it considers onerous. It gave the department the same 90 days to issue a notice making states with such laws ineligible for some broadband funds.
Source: Ensuring a National Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence, The White House
The governor approved SB 243. Operators must tell users a companion chatbot is not human where a reasonable person could be misled. They must also keep a protocol against suicide and self-harm content. Annual reports to the state begin July 1, 2027. SB 1119 (2026) strikes its extra duties for known minors.
Source: Bill Text - SB-243 Companion chatbots., California Legislative Information
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed SB 53, the Transparency in Frontier Artificial Intelligence Act. His office said it requires large frontier developers to publish a frontier AI framework. It said the law also creates a channel to report critical safety incidents to the Office of Emergency Services and protects whistleblowers.
In an extraordinary session, lawmakers passed and the governor approved SB25B-004, which extended the effective date of SB 24-205's requirements to June 30, 2026. The delay act itself took effect November 25, 2025.
Source: SB25B-004 Increase Transparency for Algorithmic Systems, Colorado General Assembly
The governor approved HB 1806, the Wellness and Oversight for Psychological Resources Act (Public Act 104-0054), effective immediately. Therapy must come from licensed professionals, who may not use AI to make independent therapeutic decisions or to interact directly with clients in therapy.
Source: Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status of HB1806, Illinois General Assembly
Senators removed a provision from the budget reconciliation bill. Introduced by Sen. Ted Cruz, the provision would have barred states from regulating AI for 10 years. Sens. Marsha Blackburn and Maria Cantwell offered the amendment to strip it, TechCrunch reported.
Source: US Senate removes controversial 'AI moratorium' from budget bill, TechCrunch
The governor signed HB 149, the Texas Responsible Artificial Intelligence Governance Act. Among other rules, it bars developing or deploying AI systems meant to incite self-harm, harm to others or crime. The attorney general has sole enforcement authority. It took effect January 1, 2026.
The governor signed HB 452, effective May 7, 2025. Suppliers of generative AI mental health chatbots must disclose that the chatbot is AI, not a human. They may not sell or share users' health information or inputs with third parties, with exceptions. The Division of Consumer Protection enforces it.
Source: H.B. 452 Artificial Intelligence Amendments, Utah State Legislature
The governor approved SB 942. As enacted, it applied to generative AI providers with over 1 million monthly visitors or users. They had to offer a free AI detection tool and disclosures marking AI-generated content. AB 853 (2025) delayed its start to August 2, 2026. SB 1000 (2026) removed the user threshold.
Source: Bill Text - SB-942 California AI Transparency Act., California Legislative Information
The governor approved HB 3773 (Public Act 103-0804), amending the Illinois Human Rights Act. Employers may not use AI that has the effect of discriminating against protected classes and must notify employees when they use AI. The Legislature's record lists an effective date of January 1, 2026.
Source: Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status of HB3773, Illinois General Assembly
The governor signed SB 24-205. It required developers and deployers of high-risk AI systems to use reasonable care to protect consumers from algorithmic discrimination from February 1, 2026. Lawmakers delayed that date in 2025 and replaced the provisions in May 2026 (see later Colorado entries).
Source: SB24-205 Consumer Protections for Artificial Intelligence, Colorado General Assembly
Gov. Bill Lee signed the Ensuring Likeness Voice and Image Security (ELVIS) Act. His office said it adds voice to the state's existing protections against unauthorized use of a person's likeness. It said the law responds to generative AI tools that can clone the voices of performers.
Source: PHOTOS: Gov. Lee Signs ELVIS Act Into Law, Office of the Governor of Tennessee
The governor signed SB 149. It requires disclosure when people interact with generative AI in regulated occupations. It says the use of generative AI is not a defense to consumer protection violations. It also creates an Office of Artificial Intelligence Policy. It took effect May 1, 2024.
Source: S.B. 149 Artificial Intelligence Amendments, Utah State Legislature
The EU AI Act applies to companies worldwide that sell or use AI in the EU and phases in from 2025 to 2028. A July 2026 amendment moved its high-risk rules to December 2027 and August 2028.
The US has no comprehensive federal AI law. AI is governed by executive orders, agency powers, a few narrow statutes and more than 100 state AI laws enacted in the first half of 2026.