With federal AI legislation stalled, US states are filling the vacuum — and March 2026 has seen a particularly active wave of AI-related bills passing or advancing across the country.
What’s Passing
| State | Legislation |
|---|---|
| Washington | Chatbot safety bill; AI transparency requirements |
| Oregon | Similar chatbot safety provisions to Washington |
| Utah | Multiple bills: AI in schools limits, deepfake protections, human oversight in medical AI decisions |
| New York | Proposed: chatbot operators liable for advice resembling licensed professional guidance |
The Coverage Areas
The emerging state-level framework touches several distinct domains:
- Chatbot safety and disclosure — requirements for AI systems to identify themselves
- Deepfake protections — restrictions on non-consensual synthetic media, particularly intimate imagery
- AI in education — limits on AI tool use in school settings
- Medical AI oversight — mandating human review in clinical decisions
- Professional liability — holding AI platforms accountable when outputs impersonate licensed professionals
The Patchwork Problem
The acceleration of state-level AI laws creates an increasingly complex compliance environment for AI companies operating nationally. What is permissible in one state may be restricted in another — and without federal preemption, that patchwork is only going to grow more intricate as 2026 progresses.
Source: transparencycoalition.ai, 01webmasters.com
