California legislature is considering SB 574 that will codify the State Bar’s AI policies. Limits include not providing public information to public generative AI platforms and to verify all AI information.
Folks, bar licenses are on the line.
1st state Digital Innovation Office
New Jersey has statutorily established the 1st ever state Digital Innovation Office. 18 states have a Digital Office. Only New Jersey has codified the office so that it will continue without interruption in changes in Governorship.
Governing | New Jersey Becomes First State to Put a Digital Innovation Office Into Law
Schools blocking ChatGPT
Denver Public Schools has blocked access to ChaptGPT “on school-issued devices and the district’s Wi-Fi network because of concerns about the artificial intelligence chatbot’s new features.”
What new features? the ability to start a 20-person group chat & the addition of adult content to ChatGPT
AI & Children state regulations
After the Executive Order seeking to preempt state AI regulation, Texas State Senator Angela Paxton led a bipartisan group of 16 Texas State Senators that informed Texas U.S> Senators that “If an AI moratorium is put in place, our important work on preventing child pornography, protecting data privacy, preventing discrimination, and holding Big Tech accountable in Texas will be rendered moot.”
California is ready to act to protect children from AI with SB 867 (2026). This bill establishes a 4 year moratorium on the sale and manufacture of toys with AI chatbot capabilities for kids under 18.
TechCrunch | California lawmaker proposes a four-year ban on AI chatbots in kids’ toys
2026: The year of AI election hoopla
A new report from the Center for Democracy and Technology warns that 2025 was just the beginning for the impact that AI will have on elections. Fun times ahead for 2026 elections.
Remember how we talked about a candidate debating an AI version of their opponent last fall? That was just the tip of the iceberg. We might also recall that the candidate that staged the AI debate lost. 26 states have banned or require disclosure of deepfake AI use in elections.
Is the cost of AI enforcement just a campaign budget item?
Route Fifty | AI’s elections impact likely to grow next year, report warns
AI critical incident reporting
California law gives AI companies 15 days to report a critical safety incident. A new law signed in New York requires reporting within 72 hours. Reporting of a critical safety incident in California is only required if there is certainty that the incident occurred while reporting is required in New York if a threat is imminent.
City & State NY | Hochul signs watered down AI regs, but lawmakers still got some wins
Legal fallout: AI executive order
Americans for Responsible Innovation Are talking about the legal implications for the Mid-December 2025 Executive Order that preempts state AI laws. They say the executive order relies on “flimsy and overly broad interpretation of the Constitution’s Interstate Commerce Clause cooked up by venture capitalists.” They also point to several failed federal attempts of AI preemption.
Route Fifty | Trump AI preemption order likely to face legal challenges
$98B in data center funds halted
According to the Data Center Watch organization, $98 B in data center development was delayed in Q2 of 2025 due to community opposition.
AI Santa
Start up Tavus has an AI Santa that people can talk to, and people talk. They talk to AI Santa a lot, as in for hours a day. How do people have time for this? Or is it kids? I don’t think Swedish tomte (Santa) would do this, Swedes are too practical. Tomte would be too busy making sure his goats are fed.
Tech Crunch | AI startup Tavus founder says users talk to its AI Santa ‘for hours’ per day
AI presidential executive order
Remember that talk about an AI executive order just before Thanksgiving. It’s here and seeks federal preemption with all caps screaming. ENSURING A NATIONAL POLICY FRAMEWORK FOR ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE