At a Glance
- 38 states pass AI laws targeting elections and health care.
- 6 states roll out paid family leave in 2026.
- Obamacare subsidies end, driving premiums up 100-175% in Colorado.
- Why it matters: These laws will shape elections, health care access, and voter rights this year.
As 2026 approaches, a wave of state legislation will reshape the political, health, and economic landscape. From AI regulation to paid leave and voting restrictions, lawmakers are tightening rules across the country.
AI in Elections and Health Care
Thirty-eight states enacted laws this year to curb AI misuse. California bars AI chatbots from pretending to be licensed doctors, while Oregon stops AI from calling itself a nurse. Montana and South Dakota require disclosure of deepfakes in elections, a measure that could affect next year’s midterms.
- California – AI chatbots cannot impersonate licensed doctors.
- Oregon – AI programs cannot use the title “nurse.”
- Montana – Disclosure required for election deepfakes.
- South Dakota – Disclosure required for election deepfakes.
Tim Storey said:
> “States have taken the lead, as they have in so many issues,”
Paid Family Leave
Maine, Delaware, Minnesota, Maryland, Vermont, and Washington will begin paid family and medical leave in 2026. The new policies provide wages during medical, birth, or family-care leaves.
| State | Leave Policy | Effective Date |
|---|---|---|
| Maine | Paid family & medical leave | 2026 |
| Delaware | Paid family & medical leave | 2026 |
| Minnesota | Paid family & medical leave | 2026 |
| Maryland | Expanded paid leave | 2026 |
| Vermont | Expanded paid leave | 2026 |
| Washington | Expanded paid leave | 2026 |
Alice Mann said:
> “I see people every single day who struggle. People are left with the choice of taking care of themselves, their family members, their new baby and not getting a paycheck anymore,”
Obamacare Subsidies Lapse
All 50 states will see higher health-care costs after federal subsidies expire. Colorado used $100 million to cushion the increase, reducing the expected premium jump from 175% to 100%.
Kyle Brown said:
> “Before we passed the bill, people’s premiums on average were expected to go up by 175% in Colorado. We passed the bill, and now they’re only going up by 100%,”
Stricter Voting Laws
Twenty states passed 37 bills limiting voting access, while 23 states enacted 51 measures to improve elections. Trump’s March executive order spurred 27 states to introduce proof-of-citizenship rules.
Chris Vasquez said:
> “We did see 27 states introduce some sort of restrictive proof-of-citizenship legislation this year, which is triple what we saw in the previous legislative session,”
Key Takeaways
- AI regulations will affect elections and health care practices nationwide.
- Paid family leave expands worker protections in half a dozen states.
- Rising insurance costs will hit consumers hard after subsidies end.
- Voting restrictions may reduce access for many voters.
The new laws set to take effect in 2026 will reshape elections, health care, and the workforce, underscoring the growing role of state governments in shaping national policy.
