U.S. pushes back on state AI laws: federal preemption battle

In mid-January 2026 the federal government signaled a coordinated response to recently enacted state AI laws. A COSSA roundup says the White House issued an executive order targeting state AI rules. HyperAI reports the Department of Justice launched an AI task force to consider challenges to state-level regulation. New York’s RAISE Act and companion provisions went into effect on Jan. 12, 2026, according to Nelson Mullins.

State laws like New York’s add safety and transparency duties for AI deployments. These include reporting and model governance requirements that affect vendor contracts, data handling, and disclosure flows. The White House action and the DOJ task force aim to avoid conflicting compliance regimes that could complicate cross-state deployments.

Expect legal fights and new agency guidance in the coming weeks. Officials will clarify whether federal action preempts state rules or triggers court challenges. Companies should map operations by state and inventory systems that trigger state obligations. They should prepare for state enforcement and possible federal litigation.

Why It Matters

• Map production systems to state obligations now — New York’s RAISE Act took effect Jan. 12, 2026 (Nelson Mullins).
• Prepare for parallel paths: expect White House regulatory guidance and potential DOJ enforcement or litigation.
• Audit vendor contracts for change-of-law, disclosure, and data-handling clauses; conflicting state rules may force rapid updates.
• Centralize logging, provenance, and model governance to speed compliance across jurisdictions if federal preemption is delayed or rejected.