AI legislation is moving fast. This is not a comprehensive tracker. This is the laws that actually require action from libraries, with timelines, what they mean for your library, and what you need to do.
Bookmark this. Check it quarterly. Most laws have compliance dates 12-18 months after enactment, which means you have limited time.
Laws That Require Action Now
These have compliance dates in 2026 or are already in effect. Start planning now.
| Law | Jurisdiction | Due Date | Library Impact | Action Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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EU AI Act
In Effect
|
European Union | August 2026 | High-risk systems (automated patron decisions, content recommendation, accessibility tools) need impact assessments, testing, documentation. Affects all vendors selling to EU libraries. |
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Colorado AI Act (SB 24-205)
Enacted
|
Colorado | June 30, 2026 | Medium-High. Applies to AI systems that could impact consumer access or education. Requires testing for bias, impact assessments, and opt-out mechanisms. Most library discovery systems don't fall into scope unless they're actively making decisions about material access. |
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California CCPA (as amended)
In Effect
|
California | Ongoing | Medium. Patron data is "personal information." If your library shares patron data with vendors, analytics providers, or anyone else, you need consumer rights protections. Recent amendments require disclosure of AI use in data processing. |
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New York AI Bias Law (A6090)
Enacted
|
New York | Effective January 2026 | Low-Medium. Only applies to "automated employment decisions" and "automated decision systems" used in hiring/promotion. Most library systems don't fall into scope unless your library is using AI for hiring or staff scheduling decisions. |
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Coming in 2026-2027
These laws are enacted or in progress. Watch these timelines closely.
| Law | Jurisdiction | Likely Date | Library Impact | Start Watching |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Connecticut AI Transparency Law (SB 1)
Enacted
|
Connecticut | January 2027 | Low-Medium. Requires transparency when AI systems are used to make decisions affecting consumers. Affects discovery systems, recommendation engines, accessibility tools if they make decisions about what patrons see. |
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Washington State AI Transparency (HB 1627, SB 5061)
Enacted
|
Washington | January 2027 | Low. Government agencies must disclose use of AI systems. If your library receives state funding or is a government entity, this applies. Mostly impacts internal systems, not patron-facing. |
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Illinois AI Video Disclosure (SB 1782)
Enacted
|
Illinois | January 2027 | Low. Specifically covers synthetic video/audio ("deepfakes"). Only relevant if your library is using AI to generate video content or is concerned about deepfakes in collections/materials. |
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Watch These (Likely Coming)
Not yet law, but likely to pass in 2026 or affect libraries indirectly through vendor compliance.
| What to Watch | Why It Matters | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Federal AI Regulation (various proposals) | Multiple bills in Congress covering AI transparency, algorithmic accountability, and government use. If passed, would establish national baseline. | 2026 elections may accelerate or delay; watch for post-election consensus |
| Section 508 Amendment (accessibility + AI) | If passed, would require AI-powered accessibility tools (captions, transcripts, text-to-speech) to meet strict accuracy standards. Affects libraries providing accessible materials. | Proposed 2026-2027 |
| State Copyright Laws (AI Training) | Several states considering laws on AI training on copyrighted works. Could affect library content, digital collections, and what vendors can do with library data. | 2026 state legislative sessions |
| Vendor Liability Laws | Some states proposing laws making vendors liable for AI harms. Could drive stronger data protection requirements and insurance obligations. | Ongoing; watch 2026 bills |
How to Stay Current
Don't rely on this page for everything. Use these resources to track bills as they emerge:
Essential Trackers
Orrick AI Law Center
Interactive map of 160+ state AI laws. Filter by state or scope. Best for staying current on new laws.
NCSL AI Legislation
National Conference of State Legislatures. Official source for state bills. Check quarterly.
MultiState AI Legislation
Tracks all 50 states. Good snapshot of what's moving in your state legislature.
What this page is: Laws that actually require action from libraries. Not every AI bill that passes is relevant to libraries. This page focuses on the ones where compliance is mandatory, not aspirational.
What this page isn't: Legal advice. Talk to your city attorney or a library law consultant about your specific situation. Compliance requirements vary by library type, funding source, and location.
Law Firm & Legal Trackers
Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner
State-by-state snapshot. Interactive map. Good for drilling into specific state bills.
US StatesNonprofit & Government Trackers
IAPP State AI Governance Tracker
Privacy-focused tracking from International Association of Privacy Professionals.
PrivacyFuture of Privacy Forum
Analysis and tracking of state approaches. Good context for understanding patterns.
AnalysisMy AI Coverage for Libraries
I've written specifically about how these laws affect library operations:
- The EU AI Act and Libraries - What it means for your vendor relationships and compliance timeline
- Colorado AI Act and Libraries - How the first comprehensive US AI law affects your systems
- Vendor Contract AI Clauses - Red flags to look for when negotiating vendor contracts
- AI-Era Privacy Policy Fixes - Specific policy language updates for patron data protection
The actual reality: Most library directors aren't tracking this. You now are. That puts you ahead. Print these tables, send them to your IT director and legal advisor. Ask them which laws apply to your library. Then set a calendar reminder to check this page every quarter.