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January 1, 2025

State AI laws create Commerce Clause conflicts without federal framework

actonline.org
Associated Press
cppa.ca.gov
iapp.org
itif.org
+17

30+ state AI laws create conflicts without federal framework

Over 1,000 AI bills introduced across all 50 states in 2025 after federal moratorium stripped from Trumps budget reconciliation

Colorado AI Act takes effect Feb. 2026 requiring bias testing while Texas explicitly permits algorithmic discrimination in identical scenarios

California Privacy Protection Agency crafting 30+ AI regulations affecting 40 million residents while Montana provides zero protections

Tech companies must build separate compliance systems for each state rather than unified national standards costing billions in duplicated effort

Governor Polis requested 13-month delay for Colorado law after admitting implementation confusion and small business compliance concerns

Federal preemption attempts failed in Congress, leaving interstate commerce subject to contradictory state-by-state AI regulations

Employment AI bias audits required in Colorado, New York City, and Illinois but prohibited in Texas and Florida creating hiring confusion

EU AI Act forces global compliance while American companies navigate 50 different state approaches without federal coordination

🏛️Government🤖AI Governance💡Technology

People, bills, and sources

What you can do

1

Monitor AI legislation in specific states through National Conference of State Legislatures tracking database

2

Support uniform federal AI standards through Electronic Frontier Foundation to end compliance chaos

3

Contact senators on Commerce Committee about comprehensive federal AI framework preventing state-by-state fragmentation

4

Follow Algorithm Watch documentation of AI discrimination patterns across different state regulatory approaches

5

Join digital rights organizations pushing consistent national protections rather than geographic AI civil rights divides

6

Track corporate compliance costs at major tech companies lobbying for federal preemption of state AI laws