A significant regulatory shift is taking place across the United States as state legislatures move to address the risks of artificial intelligence. According to a new report from the Transparency Coalition (TCAI), at least 28 states have introduced or carried over AI-specific legislation as of February 7, 2026.
This wave of state-level action follows a period of federal uncertainty and is increasingly focused on high-stakes applications like healthcare, child safety, and consumer deception.
Key Legislative Highlights: Healthcare & Child Safety
Lawmakers are shifting away from broad AI “ethics” towards enforceable mandates that protect human autonomy and minor wellbeing.
Oregon (SB 1546) – The Chatbot Safety Bill:
Objective: Specifically targets “attachment hacking” in human-like chatbots.
Key Provisions: Requires chatbots to explicitly disclose they are non-human, implement mandatory “break reminders” every hour for minors, and strictly prohibits the use of addictive algorithms or emotional manipulation (e.g., a bot acting “sad” if a user tries to delete an account).
New Hampshire (HB 1406) – Protecting Clinical Judgment:
Objective: Prevents AI from overriding the professional expertise of human doctors.
Key Provisions: Prohibits health carriers from using AI algorithms to change or negate the clinical judgment of a licensed healthcare provider during coverage determinations.
New Hampshire (SB 640): A complementary bill that bans AI systems from posing as state-licensed counselors or therapists, ensuring that mental health services remain human-led.
State-by-State AI Bill Breakdown (Early 2026)
| State | Primary Focus | Bill Number(s) |
| Oregon | Chatbot Safety & Suicide Prevention | SB 1546 |
| New Hampshire | Healthcare Bias & Clinical Autonomy | HB 1406, SB 640 |
| California | Training Data Transparency & Content Detection | AB 2013, SB 942 |
| Alabama | Health Plan Coverage & Deepfake Disclosures | SB 63, SB 129 |
| Illinois | Employment Discrimination & Public Safety | SB 3261 |
| Washington | Forged Digital Likeness & Minors’ Safety | SB 5886, HB 2225 |
Critical Trends: Deepfakes and Bias
Beyond the specific bills in Oregon and New Hampshire, the 2026 legislative landscape is dominated by two urgent themes:
Combatting “Digital Impersonation”: States like Washington and Maryland are enacting “Property Rights” in likeness, treating an individual’s voice and face as a legally protected asset to combat deepfake fraud and non-consensual intimate imagery.
Algorithmic Accountability: New laws in Colorado and California taking effect this year require developers of “high-risk” AI to conduct mandatory bias testing and impact assessments before their products can be deployed in sectors like lending, housing, or hiring.
“States are no longer regulating AI in the abstract. They are targeting specific use cases—employment, healthcare, and childhood interaction—where AI decisions have immediate, tangible human impact.” — Transparency Coalition Report, Feb 2026
