ACM FAccT Conference

EPIC Law Fellow Kara Williams will present on AI state policy at the eighth annual ACM Conference on Fairness, Accountability, and Transparency in Athens, Greece.

The translation tutorial will explain to the international, cross-disciplinary audience how the U.S. state legislative process works, what it takes to pass strong tech legislation in the states, what the current state of AI policy is across the U.S., and how participation from technical experts can help counter massive tech lobbying efforts.

Opening the State House Door: The Landscape of State AI Policy and the Stakeholders Who Influence It
Grace Gedye (Consumer Reports), Cody Venzke (ACLU), Kara Williams (EPIC)

In the United States, states-not the federal government-have become the critical venue for U.S. artificial intelligence policy in 2025. In the face of gridlock at the federal level, state legislatures considered almost 700 AI bills in 2024, 113 of which were enacted. Many of those bills focused on specific sectors or public use of AI. However, Colorado passed a comprehensive bill regulating private uses of AI, aimed at building transparency and mitigating bias in the use of AI in high-stakes decisions. Similar bills are pending or were considered in at least 14 states. State legislatures often have minimal resources to build deep subject matter expertise and little support staff, if any. As a result, experts, advocates, and lobbyists play significant roles in shaping bills. Lobbyists for large tech companies have built a strong playbook, planting industry-favored bills while pushing back against strong consumer-protective proposals. In this environment, the voices of experts in computer science, law, and public policy are critical. The presenters for this tutorial work on the frontlines of state-level AI policy debates, testifying in state houses, meeting with legislators, and suggesting amendments. They will give attendees a deep understanding of AI issues garnering the most legislative attention; a step-by-step guide to how a policy concept becomes a law in U.S. states; and an understanding of how experts-such as FAccT attendees-can influence U.S. state policy for the better, with concrete examples of how to get involved.