AI laws that took effect in 2021
20 AI laws in 17 states took effect in 2021. Each law below links to its page and its official record.
No enacted AI law on our record takes effect on January 1, 2021.
By effective date.
Vermont
H195
Vermont's H.195 (Act 17 of 2021) makes a narrow exception to the 2020 moratorium on police facial recognition (Act 166 of 2020, Sec. 14).
Enacted May 4, 2021Official record
Nevada
SB288
Nevada's SB 288 lets a transportation network company (TNC) contract with monitored autonomous vehicle providers, who own and operate autonomous vehicles with an employed monitor physically present at all times, to give rides through the TNC's app largely on…
Enacted June 10, 2021Official record
Texas
SB1308
Texas SB 1308 (2021) became law without the Governor's signature.
Enacted June 18, 2021Official record
Hawaii
SB309
Hawaii's SB 309 (Act 59 of 2021) adds sexual deep fakes to the felony of violation of privacy in the first degree (HRS § 711-1110.9).
Enacted June 23, 2021Official record
Florida
H1289
Florida's CS/CS/HB 1289 (Chapter 2021-233) defines a low-speed autonomous delivery vehicle (fully autonomous, meeting the federal low-speed vehicle standard, not built to carry people) and lets it run on roads posted at 35 mph or less and, under conditions…
Enacted June 29, 2021Official record
Indiana
HB1072
Indiana's HB 1072 (P.L. 15-2021) authorizes delivery robots.
Enacted April 1, 2021Official record
Iowa
HF304
Iowa's 2021 Acts chapter 119 (HF 304) creates Iowa Code chapter 321O for personal delivery devices: cargo-carrying devices for pedestrian areas, equipped with automated driving technology (software and hardware), that operate with remote support and…
Enacted May 20, 2021Official record
Maryland
SB726
Maryland SB 726 (2021) authorizes personal delivery devices: powered devices up to 550 pounds, used mainly on shoulders, sidewalks and crosswalks to carry property and capable of navigating with or without the active control or monitoring of an individual.
Enacted May 18, 2021Official record
Massachusetts
S2963
Massachusetts' 2020 police reform law (Chapter 253 of the Acts of 2020) regulates police use of facial recognition.
Enacted December 31, 2020Official record
Virginia
HB2031
Virginia HB 2031 (2021) prohibited local law-enforcement agencies and campus police departments from purchasing or deploying facial recognition technology unless a statute expressly authorizes it, and required any authorizing statute to keep the data under…
Enacted April 7, 2021Official record
Virginia
HB2154
Virginia HB 2154 (2021 Special Session I) directs the Board of Health to require hospitals, nursing homes and certified nursing facilities to have policies allowing patients to use their own intelligent personal assistant during an inpatient stay.
Enacted March 18, 2021Official record
Washington
SB6280
Washington's Chapter 257, Laws of 2020 (ESSB 6280) governs state and local government use of facial recognition services (chapter 43.386 RCW).
Enacted March 31, 2020Official record
Wyoming
HB85
Wyoming's HB 85 (Chapter 85 of 2021) created the crime of unlawfully disseminating an intimate image, and its definition of image includes a computer generated image that purports to represent an identifiable person, so fake or AI-made intimate images count.
Enacted April 5, 2021Official record
Washington
SB5460
Washington's Chapter 193, Laws of 2021 (SSB 5460) implements recommendations of the state autonomous vehicle work group by amending the self-certification testing pilot program in RCW 46.92.010.
Enacted May 3, 2021Official record
Illinois
SB0225
Illinois' Public Act 102-0354 (SB 225) bars the Secretary of State from providing facial recognition search services, or photographs obtained in issuing driver's licenses, permits or state identification cards, to any federal, State or local law enforcement…
Enacted August 13, 2021Official record
Texas
HB3026
Texas HB 3026 (2021) updates the state's automated motor vehicle framework.
Enacted June 16, 2021Official record
Colorado
SB21-169
Colorado SB 21-169 bars insurers from unfairly discriminating based on race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or gender expression in any insurance practice, and from using external consumer data…
Enacted July 6, 2021Official record
Maine
LD1585
Maine's 2021 facial surveillance law (25 MRSA §6001) generally prohibits government departments, public employees and officials from obtaining, using or contracting for facial surveillance systems, defined as automated or semi-automated processes that…
Enacted July 1, 2021Official record
Oklahoma
SB706
Oklahoma's SB 706 (2021) authorizes delivery robots. Personal delivery devices are electrically powered cargo devices of up to 550 pounds equipped with automated driving technology for operation with remote support and supervision.
Enacted May 5, 2021Official record
North Carolina
H814
North Carolina's S.L. 2021-179 authorizes neighborhood occupantless vehicles: low-speed, fully autonomous vehicles designed to carry cargo with no occupant.
Enacted November 10, 2021Official record
Laws with an effective date in 2021.
A law is listed under the date its main provisions take effect, from its official record. Some laws phase in, with parts starting on other dates; each law's page has the details. Counts follow our methodology: published, AI-relevant bills, one per bill number, enacted when signed or otherwise made law. Data as of October 16, 2026. Free to cite and reuse with credit to AI Laws by State (CC BY 4.0 data). Spot an error? Tell us.