Robotics laws by state
AI Laws USA tracks 6 U.S. AI rules on robotics across federal, state, county, and city government. Each entry links to its official source.
State robotics rules (1)
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Enacted (not yet in effect)
California SB 867 AI chatbot toy moratorium (2026)
California · Effective January 1, 2027 · Cal. S.B. 867 (2025-2026 Reg. Sess.), Stats. 2026, ch. 189 (Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 22601, 22604.5) — Toys: companion chatbots (signed September 10, 2026; effective January 1, 2027; repealed January 1, 2031)
California Senate Bill 867, titled 'Toys: companion chatbots', establishes a FOUR-YEAR MORATORIUM on AI-powered chatbot toys for children under sixteen. Governor Newsom signed it on September 10, 2026. This is an unusual instrument and worth understanding on its own terms. Almost every AI measure in this dataset regulates a service — an app, a platform, a website — that a child chooses to open. SB 867 regulates a PHYSICAL PRODUCT that a parent buys and a child holds: a toy with a conversational AI inside it. A child does not navigate to it, consent to terms, or understand it as software. The response is not disclosure, not age verification, not a safety plan, but a flat four-year pause on the category for under-16s. A four-year term is also notably long for a moratorium; it is closer to a prohibition with a scheduled review than to a study period. The bill was one of twelve signed the same day in California's online child safety and AI package, alongside SB 1119's companion chatbot duties and AB 1709's restrictions on addictive social media features.
City / local robotics rules (5)
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In effect
Minneapolis rejects Skydio DFR contract 6-6 (Jul. 16, 2026)
Minneapolis, MN · Effective July 16, 2026 · Minneapolis City Council 6-6 deadlock, July 16, 2026, rejecting MPD Skydio drone-as-first-responder contract
On July 16, 2026, the Minneapolis City Council deadlocked 6-6 on a proposed contract with drone maker Skydio for a police drone-as-first-responder (DFR) program, killing the deal. The vote followed a 75-day free trial Skydio provided the Minneapolis Police Department in north Minneapolis. Council opposition centered on Skydio's sales to ICE and to Israel, and on data-leak concerns. The rejection ends, for now, MPD's path to a permanent DFR program, making Minneapolis one of the larger US cities to decline a police drone contract after piloting one.
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In effect
Cypress CA police drone purchase (~$138k/3yr, Jul. 2026)
Cypress, CA · Effective July 14, 2026 · Cypress, CA City Council unanimous vote (Jul. 2026) authorizing ~$138,000/3-year police drone purchase with $70,000 foundation donation
The Cypress, California City Council voted unanimously to buy drones for its police department — a roughly $138,000 commitment over three years, with $70,000 of the cost covered by a foundation donation. Cypress is one of two Orange County cities (with Stanton) that moved on police drones the same week. This entry indexes a government drone deployment; coverage reports no specific oversight, retention, or privacy conditions attached to the purchase.
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In effect
Stanton CA authorizes OC Sheriff DFR 3-0-2 (Jul. 13, 2026)
Stanton, CA · Effective July 13, 2026 · Stanton, CA City Council 3-0-2 vote, July 13, 2026, authorizing OC Sheriff drone-as-first-responder program
The Stanton, California City Council voted 3-0 (with two abstentions) on July 13, 2026 to authorize the Orange County Sheriff's Department — which provides Stanton's police services — to run a drone-as-first-responder program in the city. Councilmember Torres abstained, citing surveillance and data-sharing concerns. Stanton and Cypress advanced police drone programs the same week. This entry indexes a government drone deployment; coverage reports no oversight or data-handling conditions attached to the authorization.
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In effect
Rochester MN $467,290 Axon DFR contract (Jul. 2026)
Rochester, MN · Effective July 6, 2026 · Rochester, MN City Council unanimous vote (Jul. 2026) authorizing $467,290 five-year Axon drone-as-first-responder contract (2 drones, 2 docking stations; Mayo grant funded)
The Rochester, Minnesota City Council unanimously authorized a $467,290 contract with Axon for a police drone-as-first-responder program — two drones and two docking stations over a five-year term, funded by a Mayo grant rather than city general funds. This entry indexes a government drone deployment; coverage reports no specific oversight, retention, or privacy conditions attached to the contract.
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In effect
Denison TX free 1-yr BRINC drone trial (Jul. 2026)
Denison, TX · Denison, TX free one-year BRINC first-responder drone trial with emergency-only use policy (reported July 15, 2026)
First responders in Denison, Texas were approved for a free one-year trial of BRINC drones, reported July 15, 2026. The trial operates under an emergency-only policy — drones respond to emergency calls rather than conducting routine patrols — and involves multiple agencies. The emergency-only restriction is the operative use limit; the trial is otherwise a no-cost vendor deployment. The exact approval meeting date was not stated in coverage.