Amid efforts by the Trump administration and federal lawmakers to stop or limit states from enacting new AI legislation, as of July 1, more than half of US states have together enacted more than 100 new AI laws this term.Every December, the Center on Technology Policy at NYU publishes a summary of what states did that year in AI and other areas of technology policy. But by July, most states have concluded their legislative sessions, allowing an initial look into the overall trajectory of the year. Below, I offer eight observations on the scope of state AI legislation so far in 2026.1. States continue to actively pursue AI regulation across topics, despite continued efforts by the Trump Administration and federal lawmakers to limit state AI policymaking.By our count, as of July 1, states…

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