84 New State AI Laws Enacted in 2026 Amid Growing Child Safety Concerns
A report by the Transparency Coalition indicates that 27 U.S. states passed or enacted 84 new AI-related laws in the first half of 2026. The legislation primarily addresses child safety and accountability for AI companies.
State legislatures across the United States enacted 84 new artificial intelligence-related laws in 27 states during the first six months of 2026, according to a mid-year report from the Transparency Coalition (TCAI). The significant legislative activity highlights a growing focus on protecting citizens, particularly children, from the potential harms of AI technologies.
The report identifies child and chatbot safety as a primary concern, with new laws mandating self-harm protocols, protections for minors, and parental access tools. Legislators also addressed concerns about AI's potential for emotional dependence and prolonged engagement among young users. Beyond chatbots, new measures tackle AI-generated deepfakes, its use in healthcare decision-making, and its increasing presence in educational settings.
"State lawmakers from both parties are recognizing that we cannot repeat the mistakes made with social media and allow companies to test powerful, potentially harmful products on children without meaningful safeguards," said Rob Eleveld, co-founder and CEO of the Transparency Coalition. "The breadth of action we are seeing demonstrates that protecting kids and holding AI companies accountable are not partisan issues."
Key legislative trends include enhanced requirements for chatbot disclosures and parental controls, frameworks for AI use in education stipulating human teachers, and restrictions on AI in healthcare insurance authorizations and therapy. Some states have also introduced regulations on algorithmic pricing and data privacy, while others are establishing safety frameworks for advanced AI models. Connecticut enacted a comprehensive 74-page law covering a wide range of AI and online safety issues.
The Transparency Coalition actively advised lawmakers and provided expert testimony in over 25 states during this period, collaborating with numerous partner organizations to advance public interest in AI policy. The organization will be discussing these trends at the National Conference of State Legislatures Legislative Summit.