April 2026

Key point: Last week, chatbot bills were signed into law in Oregon and Idaho, while a health care-related AI bill was signed into law in Tennessee.

Below is the 12th update on the status of proposed state AI legislation in 2026. These posts track state AI bills that can directly or indirectly affect private-sector AI developers and deployers. These posts do not track AI bills that focus on government use of AI; insurance; workgroups; education; legal settings; name, image, and likeness; deepfakes; CSAM and sexual material; and election interference. As always, the contents provided below are time-sensitive and subject to change.

Key point: Last week, Maine’s consumer data privacy bill stalled in the House, while Kentucky’s legislature passed a bill to amend the commonwealth’s consumer data privacy law.

Below is the 12th update on the status of proposed state privacy legislation in 2026. This post covers updates on proposed bills dealing with consumer data privacy, children’s privacy, biometric privacy, data brokers, and consumer health data privacy. As always, the contents provided below are time-sensitive and subject to change.

US state flag of Tennessee

Key point: Tennessee’s new law prohibits parties that develop or deploy AI systems from advertising or representing to the public that the AI systems can act as a qualified mental health professional. 

On April 1, 2026, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed SB 1580 into law, and it will go into effect on July 1, 2026. The new law is short — less than one page — but has potentially significant consequences given that it includes a private right of action.

In the following post, we provide an overview of the new law.