Now What? What Parents Should Know as States Move to Regulate AI

A Family’s Guide to AI Laws and What’s Next to Protect our Kids’ Digital Lives

🎆Happy 4th of July!

As we celebrate the US independence, let’s talk about a new kind of freedom: protecting our kids’ digital independence.

While we are grilling burgers and watching fireworks, AI enters our kids’ classrooms, apps, group chats, and daily lives, often without the rigorous safety testing we’d demand for a new stroller or toy.

You may have seen the headlines: Congress dropped a proposal that would have blocked states from making their own AI laws for the next decade.

For a moment, I rejoiced. States can act! But then I thought: Now what?

What does this mean for families? What should parents do next?

The answer is both empowering and overwhelming:

We need to know and help shape the rules, but we need to act now because AI is shaping many things, from our child’s homework to the ads they see online.

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The AI Law Patchwork: Where Do We Stand?

Right now, AI regulation in the US is a confusing patchwork.

The federal government covers some basics, like child privacy and criminalization of AI-generated child abuse. There‘s a trend toward federal deregulation, but child protection is often a bipartisan issue, so new laws may still have a chance to pass.

But most protections are left to the states. Some are moving fast, others not at all.

This fall, more schools than ever will use AI tools. Unfortunately, even within states with AI laws, school districts may have different policies. Nearly 8 of 10 educators said their districts don’t have clear AI policies, according to Education Week in 2024.

But this may change soon. Hundreds of AI related state regulations have been introduced in 2025 and there are 26 states with AI School Implementation Guidance now (July 2025), an increase from just 13 in May 2025.

I breakdown federal regulations and state laws in detail in the last section. But here’s two visual summary that might help:

Infographic on Federal Protection Related to AI for Kids and Families

Map of US States based on AI Regulations Availability

To view more details, jump to our deep dive section.

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Reality Check for Parents + Actionable Next Steps

So… what can families actually do right now?

Honestly? Not as much as we should be able to, because the laws are still catching up and oversight is inconsistent. But that doesn’t mean we’re powerless.

✅ What We Can Do:

🔍Check Your State:

• Check our color-coded map to see where your state stands.

• If they are green or yellow, look at our deep dive below to see what law is in place.

• If your state is orange or red, contact your representative and ask about their plans for AI and child safety.

🏫 Ask Your School:

• “Are you using any AI tools in class or with our kids data?“

• “If yes, what for? What data is used?”

• ”How do you keep my child’s data safe?”

🏡 Talk to your kids about AI and learn together:

• Ask your child:

  • “Have you used AI like ChatGPT or Gemini?“ If yes, invite them to learn together in a safe & guided way.

  • “Seen photos online that seemed fake? How do you know when something is not real?” Share ways you both can improve at spotting deepfakes.

• We have more details under our TALK & THINK approach we shared previously.

👋Leverage the aiPTO Community:

• We can track laws, test AI tools, research, and tech updates for parents.

• We’re now accepting topic requests and tips from readers.

• Just reply to this email to send us your concerns.

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🔄 Coming Next Week:

In next week’s edition, I’m turning to the research. “How does AI actually affect kids? What do we know, and what’s still unclear?”

I’ll break down what science currently says (and doesn’t say) about AI’s impact on child development, family relationships, and learning.

Always remember, you don’t have to be a tech expert to keep your kids safe. Together, let’s keep asking questions and demanding better answers. ✌️

Dhani

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Deep Dive: US AI Regulations

Federal Protections

✅Active now:

Recent shift:

• White House AI Executive Order (2025) rolled back previous AI executive orders, to remove barriers for US companies. For example, Executive Order from 2023 on standards for safety testing, watermarking, and responsible AI development—mainly focused on developers and federal use, are revoked.

Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA):

• Enhanced version effective June 2025 but compliance required by April 22, 2026.

• Covers kids under 13, requires verifiable parental consent for collecting kids’ data

• Now includes biometric identifiers (fingerprints, facial patterns, voiceprints, etc) that AI systems might use for automated child identification.

• This is key as we expect more AI education tools rolling out this fall.

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA):

• Protects student education records and COULD apply to AI tools used in schools that collect student data.

• Not specific for AI in K-12 education.

Take It Down Act:

• Makes it a federal crime to distribute non consensual intimate imagery, including AI deepfakes, for victims of any age.

• Gives minors (or their guardians) the right to request takedown of explicit/deepfake content within 48 hours.

Section 230: Active but there’s push for revision.

• The 1996 law that protects social media platforms from being sued for user-posted content.

• Multiple efforts to reform that could determine whether platforms take more or less responsibility for protecting your family from AI-generated harmful content.

FTC Act Section 5:

• Prohibits “unfair or deceptive practices”.

• FTC uses this to go after AI companies that make false claims about child safety features.

• But it’s reactive, not preventive.

Other federal regulations:

• FDA regulates AI in medical devices.

• DOJ prospectuses AI-enabled discrimination in hiring.

• Most are still developing AI-specific guidelines.

CSAM law (PROTECT Act of 2003):

• Covers AI-generated CSAM.

• Creating, distributing, or sending those materials is a federal crime With penalties up to 30 years in prison.

🔮Coming:

• Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA):

  • Passed the Senate 91-3 in July 2024 but failed to become law before Congress ended.

  • Reintroduced in May 2025.

  • If passed, would require social media platforms to provide stronger protections for users under 17, including default privacy settings and parental controls.

• EARN IT Act:

  • Bipartisan bill that would condition Section 230 immunity on platforms adopting congressional lay mandated methods for eliminating CSAM.

  • Could significantly impact how AI content moderation works.

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State And Local Level Regulations That May Impact Families and Kids:

🟢Strong Protection

• California:

  • AB 2839: Makes it illegal to create or share AI-generated child abuse images (CSAM).

  • AB 2273 (California Age-Appropriate Design Code): Bans emotion reading AI on kids and requires parent consent before using kids’ data to train AI.

  • AB 2013: By 2026, AI companies must publicly share what data they use to train their AI so parents know what info might be involved.

  • SB 942 (California AI Transparency Act): Starting 2026, large platforms must clearly label AI-generated content and give users a tool to check if content was made by AI.

  • AB 3030: Healthcare providers must tell you if AI was used to create clinical information about your child, and explain how to reach a real person.

  • More laws under development, including AB 853 requiring:

    • Large platforms to label AI-generated content,

    • Any manufactures of image/audio capturing devices to give users the option to apply digital signatures.

• Colorado:

  • Colorado Privacy Act (CPA): Lets families opt out of data profiling for things like school, jobs, or healthcare; new rules (2025) require extra protection and consent for kids’ and teens’ data, plus strict rules for companies handling biometric data like face or voice scans.

  • SB 24-205: Requires companies to use “reasonable care” to prevent AI discrimination in high-risk areas (education, healthcare, jobs), and to tell you if you’re interacting with AI. Effective Feb 1, 2026.

  • HB 1147: Makes it illegal to share undisclosed AI deepfakes about political candidates.

  • SB 21-169: Bans unfair discrimination by insurance companies using AI or algorithms.

  • More on the way: From October 2025, companies must get parental consent before using a minor’s data for targeted ads, selling it, or risky profiling.

• Utah:

  • SB 149 AI Policy Act: Requires disclosure when interacting with AI, specifically for entities offering consumer-facing genAI services in regulated professions.

  • SB 332: Extends the repeal date of AI Policy Act to July 2027

  • SB 226: Narrows AI policy Act to when directly asked by consumer or supplier or during “high-risk” interaction.

  • HB 452: Governs AI-supported mental health chatbots, including banning advertising products or services during user interactions and sharing personal info.

🟡Some Protection

States with AI laws targeting deepfakes voice cloning, and government accountability.

• Alabama:

  • HB 172: Makes it illegal to distribute AI-generated deceptive media in elections.

  • EO 738: Creates a task force to promote responsible use of genAI in state government.

  • Proposed:

    • HB 283: Gives families more control over their personal data (Access, correct, delete, or opt out of data being sold or used for targeted ads).

    • HB 516: Illegal for business to use a computer or AI to trick people into thinking you’re talking to a real person during a purchase.

• Arizona:

  • HB 2394: Illegal to create or distribute sexually explicit deepfakes without consent.

• Arkansas:

  • HB 1071 (Frank Broyles Publicity Rights Protection Act): Provides protections for an individual whose photograph, voice, or likeness is reproduced through means of AI and used commercially.

  • 2 Laws to take effect on August 3, 2025:

    • HB 1958: Requires public entities to develop a comprehensive policy regarding the authorized use of AI and ADMT

    • HB 1876: Establishes ownership rights over content generated by genAI.

• Connecticut:

  • S 1484: AI protections for employees, Limites use of electronic monitoring by an employer; Establishes various requirements concerning the use of AI systems by employers.

• Florida:

  • Brooke’s Law: Requiring platforms to delete deepfakes and create a process for people to remove sexually explicit content within 48 hours.

  • HB 919: Require disclaimer on political ad, electioneering comms, or other political content created using GenAI.

• Illinois:

  • Illinois AI Video Interview Act & HB 3773: If employers use AI to evaluate job interviews, they must get the candidate’s permission first.

  • A few AI regulations have been proposed.

• Indiana:

  • SEA 150: Prohibits use of AI to create deepfakes for harassment or intimidation.

  • HB 1133: Requires disclosure when AI is used in political communications.

  • Coming: Indiana may see future AI regulations related to consumer protection, aligning with models such as the Utah AI Policy Act.

• Kentucky:

  • SB 4 directs the Commonwealth Office of Technology to create policy standards governing the use of AI by state agency.

• Louisiana:

  • HB 1086: Prohibits creation and distribution of non-consensual deepfake pornography.

  • SB 396: Requires disclosure of AI use in political advertisements.

• Massachusetts:

  • EO 694: Establishes AI Strategic Task Force and guidelines for state AI use.

  • Proposed legislations cover AI disclosure and responsible use.

• Michigan:

  • HB 5132-5142: Set of bills targeting AI-generated deepfakes and non-consensual intimate images.

• Minnesota:

  • SF 4942: Regulates AI in hiring decisions, requiring disclosure and bias audits.

• Montana:

  • SB 212: Requires human review of AI decisions made by government agencies.

• North Carolina:

  • SB 487: Criminalizes non-consensual deepfake pornography.

• North Dakota:

  • HB 1527: Bans AI-assisted stalking or harassment.

• Ohio:

  • HB 214: Criminalizes creation and distribution of non-consensual deepfake pornography.

• Oklahoma:

  • HB 2585: Prohibits Ai-generated deepfakes in political advertising without disclosure.

• Oregon:

  • SB 1571: Requires disclosure of AI in political advertisements.

• Pennsylvania:

  • HB 1370: Criminalizes non-consensual deepfake pornograp

• South Carolina:

  • H 4690: Prohibits AI-generated deepfakes without consent.

• Texas:

  • HB 2557: Criminalizes non consensual deepfake pornography.

  • TRAIGA: A new law creates an oversight council to study AI in public services. It lays the groundwork for stronger protections starting next year.

• Tennessee:

  • ELVIS Act: Makes it illegal to clone someone’s voice or face using AI without permission.

• Virginia:

  • HB 2268: Criminalizes non-consensual deepfake pornography.

• Washington:

  • SB 6001: Requires disclosure of AI use in political advertisement.

• Wisconsin:

  • AB 537: Prohibits AI-generated deepfakes in political advertising.

• Vermont:

  • Kids Code: Taking effect Jan 2027. Requires online services likely to be accessed by kids to set high privacy by default, avoid manipulative or addictive design, and limit data collection.

  • Still pending: H 365 regulation of social media platforms and AI systems. H389 restricting the use of AI to affect rental housing pricing and availability.

🟠Protection Efforts in the Works

Some states have pending AI laws or established groups for further AI studies or protection recommendations.

• Georgia:

  • SR 431: Creates Senate Impact of Social Media and AI on Children and Platform Privacy Protection Study Committee

• Iowa:

  • SF 2338: Pending legislation on AI transparency in government.

• Kansas:

  • HB 2691: Pending legislation on AI in state government.

• Maryland:

  • HB 956: Establishes a working group tasked with studying private sector use of AI and making recommendations to the general assembly on AI regulation and policy standards.

• Missouri:

  • Introduced several AI-related bills but all still pending.

• New Jersey:

  • AR 141: Urging genAI & content sharing platforms to make voluntary commitments regarding employee whistle blower protections to prevent and remove harmful content.

• New Mexico:

  • HB 191: Pending legislation on AI transparency requirements.

• New York:

  • RAISE Act: Pending.

    • Designed to ensure the largest AI models are subject to strict safety, transparency, and incident reporting, including whistleblower protection.

    • Awaiting Governor Horchul’s approval. Once approved, it will take effect 90 days later.

  • NYC: Local Law 144: Companies must tell you if they use AI in hiring and prove it’s fair.

• West Virginia:

  • HB 3187 creates a task force responsible for identifying economic opportunities related to AI and providing recommendations to develop best practices for AI use in the public sector and protect individual rights and consumer data.

🔴Limited Legislative Activity

The following states has minimal or no specific AI legislation enacted:

Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Maine, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Washington DC, Wyoming.

Disclaimer: This information is current as of July 4, 2025. State laws are changing rapidly. Check your state’s legislature website or contact your representative for the most current information.