Missouri lawmakers fail to pass AI regulations during 2026 legislative session

Missouri lawmakers adjourned the 2026 legislative session without approving any AI regulations, despite introducing over a dozen proposals. None of the 100 bills passed this year addressed artificial intelligence, leaving the state without formal oversight as AI adoption accelerates. State lawmakers, including Republican Rep. Christopher Warwick and Democratic Sen. Doug Beck, emphasized concerns about child protection and distinguishing AI-generated content from reality. Warwick stressed safeguarding children, while Beck warned about the dangers of misinformation and deepfakes. The absence of AI regulations contrasts with voter sentiment, as only 16% of Missourians surveyed by YouGov and SLU view recent AI advancements positively. Both parties support regulation, but legislative action remains stalled until the next session in January 2027. Governor Mike Kehoe, however, actively promotes AI growth, calling it the ‘space race of our time’ and celebrating new data center projects, such as Google’s facility in Montgomery County. President Trump’s December 2025 executive order complicates state-level AI governance by directing states to align with federal policies or risk losing rural broadband funding. The order argues that patchwork state regulations hinder innovation, particularly for startups, and explicitly warns against laws conflicting with federal AI strategy. Utah lawmakers were reportedly informed their bills did not comply with the administration’s framework. Opposition to data centers persists in some Missouri communities, though Kehoe’s administration continues to prioritize AI infrastructure expansion. The executive order’s implications for state autonomy and funding create tension between local regulatory ambitions and federal directives. Without legislative progress, Missouri’s AI landscape remains unregulated, leaving key ethical, technical, and economic questions unresolved.