News Cooley State AI Laws Update April 2026
Law firm Cooley published an analysis on April 24, 2026 titled "State AI Laws – Where Are They Now?" examining how state AI legislation is undergoing significant changes as compliance deadlines in 2026 approach and federal preemption efforts threaten to reshape state-level initiatives.[1]
Key Findings
Existing Laws Undergoing Changes
Many state AI laws that passed in prior years have undergone significant changes or delays since their passage, as states revise or reconsider their regulatory frameworks in response to practical implementation challenges and federal pressure.[1]
Federal Preemption Threat
The White House is urging Congress to enact sweeping AI legislation to preempt certain state laws that risk stifling innovation. The federal action is "potentially threatening to reshape or constrain state-level initiatives" according to the analysis.[1]
Colorado SB 205
The alert provides detailed coverage of Colorado's comprehensive AI regime enacted in May 2024, which regulates "high-risk artificial intelligence systems" used in "consequential decisions" and imposes broad obligations on developers and deployers related to risk management, impact assessments, consumer disclosures, and reporting to the Colorado attorney general. Proposed amendments signal movement away from the broad "high-risk AI" framework toward a narrower, decision-focused model, with a June 30, 2026 compliance deadline.[1]
The Colorado AI Working Group has proposed replacing the existing framework with a disclosure-driven approach, as covered in the Colorado AI Working Group Revision story.
Recommendations
The alert emphasizes that companies should prepare for compliance under current state frameworks while tracking legislative developments that could reshape obligations in the near term, given the dynamic interplay between federal preemption efforts and state legislative activity.[1]