USA: AI Governance Framework

📘 Overview

You’re looking at the current AI regulatory landscape in the USA. A quick, structured summary of how the country governs, guides, and shapes artificial intelligence. Last update: 18-10-2026.

Important note: EO 14434 establishes „Super Intelligence“ as the official term of this technology.

• Regulatory maturity: Low (federal), Medium (state level)
• Approach: Innovation-focused (federal), balanced (state level)
• Key priorities: depending on state and application area, federal priority clearly pro-innovation focus with emphasis on infrastructure and competitiveness

⚖️ Core AI Laws

• No federal AI law (also currently not expected in the future)
  • Currently in committee: FRONTIER Act (H.R. 9925) – GovTrack.us (text here: BILLS-119hr9925ih.pdf). Established tiered federal oversight of the development and deployment of frontier artificial intelligence models under defined conditions.
• State-level AI laws:
  • California:
    • No Robo Bosses Act (SB-947) (2026): Prohibiting employers to discipline or fire employees solely based on automated decision-making, ensuring human oversight and data transparency. Takes effect on 01-07-2026.
    • Amendment of the California Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (Cal-WARN) (2026): Introduces additional employer disclosures (e.g. in written notice) when AI causes e.g. layoffs, relocations, or terminations.
    • Transparency in Frontier Artificial Intelligence Act (TFAIA) (SB-53) (2025): Focused on AI frontied model regulation, including obligations regarding safety, incident management, and whistleblower protection. Civil penalties up to one million dollars per violation.
  • Colorado
    • SB26-189 Automated Decision-Making Technology | Colorado General Assembly (2026): Sets rules for employers using automated decision-making technology, including e.g. documentation obligations. Takes effect on 01-01-2027.
  • New York
    • NY State Assembly Bill 2025-A6453A Responsible AI Safety and Education Act (RAISE Act) (2025): Defines disclosure, safety, and reporting obligations for frontier AI model developers.
  • Texas
    • 89(R) HB 149 – Enrolled version – Bill Text Texas Responsible Artificial Intelligence Governance Act (TRAIGA) (HB149) (2025): First state-level comprehensive AI regulation, including prohibited AI uses. Took effect on 01-01-2026.

📑 National AI Strategy

• Strategy name: Winning the Race: America’s AI Action Plan
• Year: 2025
• Main objectives:
  • Accelerate AI innovation
  • Build Americal AI Infrastructure
  • Lead in International AI Diplomacy and Security

🧭 Government Guidelines & Frameworks

• National Policy Framework for AI (2026): Includes seven legislative recommendations, including „Establishing a Federal Policy Framework, Preempting Cumbersome State AI Laws“
• NIST: Artificial Intelligence Risk Management Framework: Generative Artificial Intelligence Profile (NIST AI 600-1, 2024) (2026): Based on the AI RMF 1.0, this guidance establishes a risk taxonomy for generative AI.
• NIST: Artificial Intelligence Risk Management Framework (AI RMF 1.0) (2023): Voluntary framework to manage risks of AI and promote trustworthy AI systems. Next to ISO42001, the de-facto standard of AI governance.

🏛️ Supervisory Authorities

Authority	Role	Website
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)	Consumer protection	Federal Trade Commission | Protecting America’s Consumers
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)	Frameworks	National Institute of Standards and Technology
Many other authorities, including the DOJ, FDA, State AGs and many more. For this overview, they are not independently named and discussed here in this general overview.	N/A	N/A

🏷️ Sector-Specific Rules

• Finance: Treasury Releases Two New Resources to Guide AI Use in the Financial Sector | U.S. Department of the Treasury
• Public sector:
  • M-25-21-Accelerating-Federal-Use-of-AI-through-Innovation-Governance-and-Public-Trust.pdf
  • M-25-22-Driving-Efficient-Acquisition-of-Artificial-Intelligence-in-Government.pdf

⏳ Upcoming Changes

• 2027:
  • January: Colorado SB 26-189 and NY RAISE Act take effect
  • July: California SB947 takes effect

📝 Notes & Commentary

Strong innovation and deregulation focus on the federal level. State-level legislation varies, but California clearly positioned as the strictest regulator. The NIST AI RMF is widely accepted and serves as a global best practice in AI governance and especially in AI risk management. Companies need to ensure they understand the full picture and dynamics of both federal and state-level and adjust strategy accordingly, especially in highly regulated industries or high-risk AI applications (e.g. employment).

🔗 Official Resources

• Laws & regulations:
  • Federal:
    • https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/2164
    • https://takeitdown.ftc.gov
    • https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/9925
  • California:
    • Bill Text – SB-53 Artificial intelligence models: large developers.
    • Bill Text: CA SB951 | 2025-2026 | Regular Session | Chaptered | LegiScan
    • https://www.gov.ca.gov/2025/09/29/governor-newsom-signs-sb-53-advancing-californias-world-leading-artificial-intelligence-industry/
  • Colorado:
    • SB26-189 Automated Decision-Making Technology | Colorado General Assembly
• Government publications:
  • Executive Order 14365: Ensuring a National Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence – The White House
  • Executive Order 14434: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/09/inaugurating-the-era-of-super-intelligence/
  • America’s AI Action Plan
  • White House National Policy Framework for AI – Legislative Recommendations
• Guidelines:
  • Artificial Intelligence Risk Management Framework: Generative Artificial Intelligence Profile
  • Artificial Intelligence Risk Management Framework (AI RMF 1.0) | NIST