The deadlines have passed. What happened next is the story.
According to reports, the Trump administration issued an executive order reportedly aimed at establishing a national AI policy framework and limiting the reach of state AI regulations, reportedly characterized as seeking a “minimally burdensome national standard.” Two federal deliverables tied to that effort were reportedly due March 11, 2026: a Commerce Department assessment of state AI laws and an FTC policy statement on AI and Section 5 of the FTC Act. Whether either was published by that date is not yet confirmed in available reporting.
Baker Botts’ March 2026 federal AI deadline tracker confirms that federal AI regulatory deadlines of this period are being actively monitored by legal practitioners. As David Pierce noted in Best Lawyers (March 5, 2026), US AI legal risk in 2026 is shaped less by a single comprehensive federal statute and more by state legislation, consumer protection enforcement, and contractual obligations, which is precisely the tension the reported preemption effort is designed to address.
The most immediate forward-looking deadline for US companies: Colorado’s AI Act is reportedly scheduled to take effect June 30, 2026. That date is approaching regardless of what happens at the federal level.
⚠ Important: Federal preemption is a policy direction, not an accomplished legal fact. State AI laws remain in force until superseded by federal statute, regulation, or court order. Companies should consult qualified US legal counsel before making compliance decisions based on federal preemption expectations.