Region
There is no comprehensive federal AI statute. Federal policy runs through executive action and through agencies enforcing existing laws on unfair practices, discrimination, credit and health privacy. States are legislating on frontier models, consumer automated decisions, employment and transparency. Executive orders do not by themselves override state laws: as of the review date, state AI laws remain in effect unless a court or Congress says otherwise.
For reference purposes only. Not legal advice.
Snapshot
No comprehensive federal AI statute. Yes in some states.
Executive action and agency enforcement of existing laws, plus a growing body of state law.
White House, DOJ, FTC, EEOC, CFPB, sector regulators, state attorneys general
1 Jan 2027: several state laws take effect (Colorado, California automated decision rules, New York and Illinois frontier laws)
Last reviewed 2 Oct 2026.
How to read this page
United States: AI-specific binding law is "No comprehensive federal AI statute. Yes in some states.". Executive action and agency enforcement of existing laws, plus a growing body of state law. This page lists 6 main instruments and 2 key dates, names the regulators to watch, and ends with questions to put to counsel. Each record carries a certainty label and a review date; treat anything marked Verify or Unsettled as a prompt to check the primary source.
US timeline
Status tags are computed against today's date in your browser, so a card flips from Upcoming to In effect on its own.
California SB 53 and AB 2013, Texas TRAIGA and Illinois HB 3773 are in force since 1 Jan 2026.
In effect since 1 Jan 2026
Colorado SB 26-189, California automated decision obligations, and the New York RAISE Act and Illinois SB 315 frontier laws take effect from 1 Jan 2027.
Dates and scope are subject to change
In 90 days
Dates are a summary. Confirm them with qualified counsel for your own case.
Federal layer
Executive orders do not by themselves override state laws. As of the review date, state AI laws remain in effect unless a court or Congress says otherwise.
| Instrument | Type | Status | Applies to | Key duties | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Executive Order 14179, "Removing Barriers to American Leadership in AI"Primary source ↗ · Checked 2 Oct 2026 VerifyPlain-language summarySets the direction of federal AI policy. It does not directly regulate private organizations. SimplifiedUS federal and state AI policy is moving quickly, and federal preemption of state AI laws is the subject of litigation and proposals. Check the primary source for the current position. | Executive action | In force | Federal policy | Revoked the 2023 AI executive order (14110); sets a pro-innovation federal policy. | 20 Jan 2025 |
America's AI Action PlanPrimary source ↗ · Checked 2 Oct 2026 VerifyPlain-language summaryA national strategy document. It signals priorities rather than creating duties for private organizations. SimplifiedUS federal and state AI policy is moving quickly, and federal preemption of state AI laws is the subject of litigation and proposals. Check the primary source for the current position. | Executive policy | Voluntary guidance | Federal policy | National strategy; directed the revision of the NIST AI RMF. | 23 Jul 2025 |
Executive Order 14365, "Ensuring a National Policy Framework for AI"Primary source ↗ · Checked 3 Oct 2026 VerifyPlain-language summaryDirects the Attorney General to set up an AI Litigation Task Force to challenge state AI laws the administration considers inconsistent with the order, and directs Commerce to evaluate state AI laws. Whether any state law has been struck down is for the courts; check current litigation. Not settledTask force and Commerce evaluation are reported by law-firm summaries of the order. Litigation and proposals are in progress; check the current position. Primary text not read. | Executive action | In force | Federal policy, state AI laws | Seeks a national framework and challenges to state AI laws through a DOJ AI Litigation Task Force; carve-outs include child safety and state government procurement and use. | 11 Dec 2025 |
National Policy Framework for AI (legislative recommendations)Primary source ↗ · Checked 2 Oct 2026 VerifyPlain-language summaryA set of recommendations to Congress. Check whether any bill has passed. Not settledWhether any bill has passed was not checked. Treat as a proposal until confirmed. | Proposal to Congress | Proposed | Congress | Non-binding blueprint favoring federal preemption. | 20 Mar 2026 |
Existing federal laws applied to AIPrimary source ↗ · Checked 2 Oct 2026 VerifyPlain-language summaryAI is not exempt from existing law. Agencies such as the FTC, EEOC and CFPB apply their usual rules to AI-assisted decisions and claims. SimplifiedUS federal and state AI policy is moving quickly, and federal preemption of state AI laws is the subject of litigation and proposals. Check the primary source for the current position. | Laws enforced by agencies | In force | Organizations using AI in the US | Unfair or deceptive practices (FTC Act), anti-discrimination in employment, credit and housing, consumer reporting, health privacy, and sector rules continue to apply to AI use. | Ongoing |
OMB memoranda on federal agency AI use and procurementPrimary source ↗ · Checked 2 Oct 2026 VerifyPlain-language summaryRelevant if you sell AI to the federal government. Check the current memo numbers. SimplifiedUS federal and state AI policy is moving quickly, and federal preemption of state AI laws is the subject of litigation and proposals. Check the primary source for the current position. | Federal policy | In force | Federal agencies and vendors selling to them | Governs AI use and buying by federal agencies. | 2025 |
State layer
A starter set of state and city laws, each checked against a primary source link and marked Verify until reviewed.
| State | Law | Topic | Status and dates | Key duties (summary) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | SB 53, Transparency in Frontier AI ActPrimary source ↗ · Checked 2 Oct 2026 Verify Not settledState AI laws are changing fast: effective dates, scope and rulemaking can change, and some are subject to litigation or federal preemption efforts. Check the primary source. | Frontier models | In force In force since 1 Jan 2026 Applies to: Large frontier developers | Publish a safety framework and transparency reports, report critical safety incidents; whistleblower protections. |
| California | AB 2013Primary source ↗ · Checked 2 Oct 2026 Verify Not settledState AI laws are changing fast: effective dates, scope and rulemaking can change, and some are subject to litigation or federal preemption efforts. Check the primary source. | Transparency | In force In force since 1 Jan 2026 Applies to: Developers of generative AI offered in California | Publish a summary of training data. |
| California | CPPA regulations on automated decision-making technology, risk assessments and cybersecurity auditsPrimary source ↗ · Checked 2 Oct 2026 Verify Not settledState AI laws are changing fast: effective dates, scope and rulemaking can change, and some are subject to litigation or federal preemption efforts. Check the primary source. | Consumer automated decisions | In force, phased Regulations in effect; automated decision obligations for significant decisions apply from 1 Jan 2027 Applies to: Businesses subject to California privacy law | Notices, opt-out or appeal rights and risk assessments for covered uses. |
| Colorado | SB 26-189 (replaces the 2024 Colorado AI Act, SB 24-205)Primary source ↗ · Checked 3 Oct 2026 Verify Not settledSignature (14 May 2026) and 1 Jan 2027 effective date are reported by law-firm summaries. Litigation and rulemaking may change the position. Primary text not read. | Consumer automated decisions | Enacted, not yet in force Signed 14 May 2026; effective 1 Jan 2027 Applies to: Developers and deployers of covered automated decision systems | Narrower and notice-based: disclosures to consumers, explanations after an adverse outcome, correction rights and meaningful human review for automated decision-making technology that materially influences a consequential decision. A federal magistrate judge reportedly blocked enforcement of the predecessor law (SB 24-205) in litigation brought by xAI with DOJ support. Rulemaking and litigation to watch. |
| Texas | HB 149, Texas Responsible AI Governance Act (TRAIGA)Primary source ↗ · Checked 2 Oct 2026 Verify Not settledState AI laws are changing fast: effective dates, scope and rulemaking can change, and some are subject to litigation or federal preemption efforts. Check the primary source. | Cross-sector prohibitions | In force In force since 1 Jan 2026 Applies to: Anyone developing, offering or using AI in Texas | Intent-based prohibitions (for example manipulation and unlawful discrimination); Attorney General enforcement with a cure period. |
| Illinois | HB 3773 (amends the Illinois Human Rights Act)Primary source ↗ · Checked 2 Oct 2026 Verify Not settledState AI laws are changing fast: effective dates, scope and rulemaking can change, and some are subject to litigation or federal preemption efforts. Check the primary source. | Employment | In force In force since 1 Jan 2026 Applies to: Employers using AI in employment decisions | No AI use in employment decisions with discriminatory effect on protected classes; notice to employees and applicants. |
| Illinois | SB 315Primary source ↗ · Checked 3 Oct 2026 Verify Not settledReported by law-firm summaries. Scope and thresholds were not checked. Primary text not read. | Frontier models | Enacted, not yet in force Signed 6 Jul 2026; effective 1 Jan 2027; transparency-reporting and audit obligations from 1 Jan 2028 Applies to: Covered frontier developers | Frontier developer safety duties, including annual independent third-party audits of safety practices. |
| New York | RAISE ActPrimary source ↗ · Checked 3 Oct 2026 Verify Not settledReported by secondary summaries, including a general encyclopedia. Thresholds and dates were not checked against the statute. Primary text not read. | Frontier models | Enacted, not yet in force Signed 19 Dec 2025; effective 1 Jan 2027 Applies to: Large frontier developers (reported thresholds: over $500 million annual revenue and models trained with more than 10^26 operations) | Frontier developer safety and transparency duties. |
| New York City | Local Law 144 (automated employment decision tools)Primary source ↗ · Checked 2 Oct 2026 Verify Not settledState AI laws are changing fast: effective dates, scope and rulemaking can change, and some are subject to litigation or federal preemption efforts. Check the primary source. | Employment | In force In force since July 2023 Applies to: Employers and employment agencies using automated employment decision tools for NYC candidates or employees | Annual independent bias audit, published results and candidate notices. |
| Utah | AI Policy Act (SB 149, 2024, as amended)Primary source ↗ · Checked 2 Oct 2026 Verify Not settledState AI laws are changing fast: effective dates, scope and rulemaking can change, and some are subject to litigation or federal preemption efforts. Check the primary source. | Transparency | In force In force Applies to: Businesses using generative AI to interact with people in certain contexts | Disclosure of generative AI interactions in certain contexts. |
Other states: check your state's laws. ClearPath only lists a state after a primary source has been checked.
Enforcement
Unfair or deceptive practices, including misleading AI claims.
Discrimination in employment, including AI-assisted hiring.
Credit, consumer reporting and fair lending.
Federal enforcement; AI Litigation Task Force under Executive Order 14365.
Enforce state AI and consumer protection laws.
Penalty amounts are not stated here because they have not been verified from the primary source.
Actions
Not settled
Official answers
These bodies can give official guidance. ClearPath is for reference only.
Sources
No. It is voluntary guidance, though customers and regulators often ask about alignment.
Not by itself. As of the review date, state AI laws remain in effect unless a court or Congress says otherwise.
Reviewed 2 Oct 2026.
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