State legislatures across the country are racing against session deadlines to pass a wave of AI-related legislation, with Arizona facing adjournment on April 25, Tennessee lawmakers down to their final day, and California committees accelerating hearings on dozens of bills. The April 24 legislative update from the Transparency Coalition cataloged active AI bills in more than a dozen states, painting a picture of a regulatory landscape moving at unprecedented speed.
Arizona: Three Bills, One Day Left
As the Arizona legislature approached its April 25 adjournment, three AI bills remained in play. HB 2311, a children's chatbot safety bill that would require parental consent and content guardrails for AI systems interacting with minors, has passed both chambers but faces a final procedural vote. HB 2371, which addresses the use of AI-assisted arbitration in divorce proceedings, cleared committee votes but has stalled since late March.
"The states are doing what Congress has failed to do, which is actually legislating on AI," said Matt Scherer, senior policy counsel at the Center for Democracy and Technology. "The quality and specificity of these bills has improved dramatically compared to what we saw even a year ago."
Arizona's AI legislative agenda reflects a growing trend of states targeting specific AI applications rather than attempting broad, comprehensive regulation. By focusing on narrow use cases like children's safety and judicial proceedings, lawmakers can build consensus more easily and avoid the definitional challenges that have stymied federal efforts.
California Takes the Lead
In Sacramento, committee hearings have shifted into high gear on what observers estimate are more than 40 AI-related bills. Two chatbot bills advanced out of committee this week, alongside measures addressing AI pricing algorithms, disclosure requirements, employment screening, and healthcare applications.
California's legislative approach has evolved significantly since the contentious SB 1047 debate in 2024. Rather than a single omnibus bill, the state is pursuing a portfolio strategy, with individual bills targeting specific risks and use cases. This approach has drawn less industry opposition while still advancing meaningful protections.
"California is building an AI regulatory framework one brick at a time," said Jennifer King, privacy and data policy fellow at Stanford's Human-Centered AI Institute. "Each bill addresses a specific harm, and together they add up to comprehensive coverage."
Tennessee and Maryland Take Action
Tennessee lawmakers had one final day to pass three AI bills as of April 24. SB 837, dealing with AI legal status, passed both chambers, while a healthcare AI bill, SB 1580, was signed into law by the governor. Maryland lawmakers, who adjourned on April 13, sent four AI bills to Governor Wes Moore, including measures on deepfake protections, data-driven pricing, and AI guidance for schools.
Alabama also joined the legislative wave, with Governor Kay Ivey signing SB 63 on April 17, a new law regulating the use of artificial intelligence in health insurance coverage determinations. Hawaii advanced three AI-related bills into reconciliation, including HB 1782, which establishes safeguards and penalties for AI companion systems that interact with minors.
Why This Matters
The state-level AI legislative surge represents the most significant expansion of AI governance in the United States since the federal government's initial executive orders in 2023. With Congress deadlocked on comprehensive federal AI legislation, states have become the primary arena for AI policymaking, creating a patchwork of regulations that AI companies must navigate.
The focus on children's safety and healthcare is particularly notable, as these areas represent some of the highest-risk applications of AI technology. The convergence of multiple states on similar themes suggests an emerging consensus on where AI regulation is most urgently needed.
What to Watch
The coming weeks will determine which of these bills become law and which die in committee. Industry groups are lobbying aggressively against some measures, while advocacy organizations push for stronger protections. The interaction between state legislation and the federal government's recent moves to preempt state AI laws adds another layer of complexity to an already dynamic regulatory landscape.
“The states are doing what Congress has failed to do, which is actually legislating on AI.”— Matt Scherer, Senior Policy Counsel, Center for Democracy and Technology