States are expanding AI regulation even after President Donald Trump warned them against acting independently. Congress has not produced federal rules, leaving state lawmakers to address how chatbots interact with children, how employers use AI systems and what developers should do to reduce the risk of catastrophic misuse.
Trump has made AI a national and economic security priority and argued that a patchwork of state laws could burden an industry spending trillions of dollars while competing with China. His executive order directed federal officials to identify and challenge state laws deemed more than “minimally burdensome” and threatened some grant funding, though the White House has not indicated that it has sued a state or withheld money.
Recent state proposals are more targeted than earlier broad efforts. Illinois lawmakers backed requirements for developers of large advanced AI models to create catastrophe-prevention protocols and obtain independent audits. Colorado required disclosure when AI is used in decisions involving employment, education, housing or banking, while Connecticut added notice rules for employment-related AI and restrictions on companion chatbots used by someone under 18. California lawmakers are advancing the “No Robo Bosses Act of 2026,” while Florida and Utah have seen some AI bills stall amid debate over federal versus state authority.
