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Analysis

Which states require school districts to adopt an AI policy

Laws in eight states now require every school district to adopt its own policy on artificial intelligence, and Florida does the same by board rule. Five of the eight laws passed in 2026, and most build the local policy on a model or guidance the state writes first.

By Edictai18 October 2026Data as of October 2026

Key points

  • Tennessee, Arkansas, Ohio, Utah, Idaho, Virginia, Oklahoma and Maryland have laws requiring each school district to adopt an AI policy. Florida's State Board of Education requires it by rule.
  • Five of the eight laws passed in the 2026 sessions.
  • Most tie the local policy to a model, framework or guidance the state must write first. Tennessee, Arkansas and Oklahoma set the content in the statute.
  • At least six failed bills would have added similar requirements, and more are pending.

A state that wants rules on AI in classrooms has two broad choices. It can write the rules itself, or it can require each school district to adopt a policy of its own. As of October 2026, Edictai's records show eight states that have taken the second route by statute for public schools, one that has done so by board rule, and several requirements that reach public colleges and universities.

The early laws

Tennessee was first. Its 2024 law requires local boards of education to adopt a policy on AI use by students, teachers and staff for instruction and assignments, in place by the 2024-25 school year, and to report compliance to the state each July 11.

Arkansas followed in 2025 with a broader law. It requires every public entity, a term that includes school districts, open-enrollment charter schools and public colleges, to create a policy defining the authorized use of AI and automated decision tools and to train employees on it2.

Ohio acted through its 2026-27 budget. The law required the state education department to write a model policy by December 31, 2025, and requires every district, community school and STEM school to adopt a policy by July 1, 20263.

The 2026 sessions

Five more states passed such laws in 2026. Utah requires each local education agency to adopt a policy based on a state model, submit it to the state board, train staff on it and review it at least every two years. An agency that adopts nothing is held to the model4. Idaho requires every district and public charter school to adopt a policy on generative AI use by students and employees, aligned with a state framework5.

Virginia passed matching House and Senate bills requiring each school board to establish and enforce policies consistent with guidance the Department of Education must write6. Oklahoma's Responsible Technology in Schools Act requires each district board to adopt a policy before the 2027-28 school year7. Maryland's Artificial Intelligence Ready Schools Act requires each local school system to have a policy aligned with state guidance within 120 days of the guidance's release8.

Table 1. State requirements for district AI policies
StateInstrumentMeasureDeadline for districtsPolicy built on
TennesseeLaw (2024)SB 17112024-25 school yearSet in the statute
ArkansasLaw (2025)HB 1958Not set in the provisionSet in the statute
OhioLaw (2025 budget)HB 961 Jul 2026State model, optional
UtahLaw (2026)H.B. 273Not set in the provisionState model
IdahoLaw (2026)S 1227Not set in the provisionState framework
VirginiaLaw (2026)HB 1186Not set in the provisionDepartment guidance
OklahomaLaw (2026)SB 1734Before 2027-28 school yearSet in the statute
MarylandLaw (2026)SB 720120 days after state guidanceState guidance
FloridaBoard rule (2026)Rule 6A-1.09571 Jul 2027Internet safety policy

Source: Edictai records, October 2026.

By rule rather than statute

Florida's requirement comes from its State Board of Education. An amendment to the state's internet safety rule, adopted in September 2026, requires each district school board and charter school governing board to amend its internet safety policy to address AI instructional tools by July 1, 20279.

Narrower requirements

Two other laws require a local policy on one specific use of AI. Alabama's 2024 law directs the State Board of Education to require each local board to adopt a student discipline and education policy on private images, and that policy must prohibit explicit images generated with AI10. Utah's 2026 school security law bars students from using AI glasses during class and requires each local education agency to set a policy on exceptions, such as emergencies and medical needs11.

Colleges and universities

Tennessee's 2024 law also reached higher education. The University of Tennessee board, the Board of Regents and each state university board had to adopt an AI policy by July 1, 202512. Arkansas's public-entity law covers public colleges and universities as well2. Maryland's 2024 AI Governance Act requires its public senior higher education institutions and Baltimore City Community College to adopt AI policies compatible with the state's own13.

Some systems have acted without a statute. The University System of Georgia's Board of Regents requires every institution to adopt policies or procedures on AI in academic contexts14. SUNY requires its institutions to publish or update AI policies by December 31, 202615. Florida's September 2026 State Board rules extend the policy requirement to Florida College System institutions16.

Bills that did not pass

At least six similar bills failed. Indiana's 2025 bill would have required districts and charter schools to adopt, post and communicate an AI policy to students17. Hawaii's 2026 bill would have had each public school write one with parents and the local community18. West Virginia's 2026 bill would have required county boards to adopt a policy based on a state model19.

Arizona's 2026 bill would have required district and charter boards to adopt policies on detecting and preventing unauthorized student use of AI, with a human reviewing any flagged assignment20. North Carolina's House bill on social media and AI safety would have required local boards to adopt AI use policies21. A Florida bill would have written AI policies into district codes of student conduct before the State Board acted by rule22.

Still pending

Several bills remain open. An Illinois bill that has passed one chamber would require each school board to adopt an AI policy by the 2027-28 school year that bars teachers from using AI to assign grades for tasks requiring professional judgment23. A Pennsylvania bill would require every school entity and nonpublic school to adopt a policy by the same school year24. An Iowa bill would cover school districts, community colleges and Board of Regents institutions25.

What the laws leave to districts

Most of these laws pair the requirement with something the state writes first. Utah, Ohio and the failed West Virginia bill rely on a model policy; Virginia and Maryland on department guidance; Idaho on a state framework. Tennessee, Arkansas and Oklahoma set the subject or required content of the policy in the statute itself, and Oklahoma's law adds statewide rules on educator review, parent notice and opt-outs that every district policy must meet7.

Notes

  1. Tennessee, SB 1711, AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, relative to artificial intelligence (Became law, 19 Mar 2024). Senate Amendment 1 (SA0527), Section 2 (TCA 49-2-203(a)).Adopt a policy regarding the use of artificial intelligence by students, teachers, and staff for instructional and assignment purposes. The policy must be implemented in schools no later than the 2024-2025 school year.
  2. Arkansas, HB 1958, To Require Public Entities To Create A Policy Concerning The Authorized Use Of Artificial Intelligence (Became law, 17 Apr 2025). Section 1, 25-1-128(b)(3).Create an artificial intelligence and automated decision tool policy that: (A) Defines the authorized use of artificial intelligence and automated decision tools for the public entity
  3. Ohio, HB 96, Make state operating appropriations for FY 2026-27 (Became law, 30 Jun 2025). R.C. 3301.24(B).Not later than July 1, 2026, each school district, community school established under Chapter 3314. of the Revised Code, and STEM school established under Chapter 3326. of the Revised Code shall adopt a policy on the use of artificial intelligence.
  4. Utah, H.B. 273, Classroom Technology Amendments (Became law, 18 Mar 2026). Utah Code 53G-7-1402(3)-(4).An LEA shall produce and adopt an artificial intelligence use policy based on the model policy described in Subsection (2).
  5. Idaho, S 1227, Education – Adds to existing law to establish provisions regarding generative artificial intelligence in public education (Became law, 19 Mar 2026). Idaho Code 33-7004.Each local school district and public charter school shall adopt a policy governing the use of generative artificial intelligence by students and employees
  6. Virginia, HB 1186, Department of Education; artificial intelligence system use in instructional settings; development of AIS safety guidance required; AIS Innovation in Education Pilot Program established; report (Became law, 13 Apr 2026). Va. Code 22.1-20.2:1(C).Each school board shall establish, implement, and enforce policies consistent with the guidance developed by the Department pursuant to subsection B.
  7. Oklahoma, SB 1734, Oklahoma Responsible Technology in Schools Act (Became law, 12 May 2026). Sec. 1(I).Prior to the beginning of the 2027-2028 school year, each school district board of education shall adopt and maintain a policy governing the use of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.
  8. Maryland, SB 720, Education - Artificial Intelligence - Guidelines, Professional Development, and Collaborative (Artificial Intelligence Ready Schools Act) (Became law, 26 May 2026). Education Article 7-2202(c).EACH LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEM SHALL HAVE AN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE POLICY ALIGNED WITH THE GUIDANCE
  9. Florida, Rule 6A-1.0957, F.A.C., Internet Safety Policy (2026 amendment on artificial intelligence instructional tools) (Published 16 Sep 2026). Rule 6A-1.0957(3)(e).Each district school board and charter school governing board must, by July 1, 2027, adopt and implement an amendment to their internet safety policy that specifically addresses safety policy regarding the use of artificial intelligence instructional tools.
  10. Alabama, HB 168, Crimes & Offenses, raises max. age for offenses involving obscene materials with depictions of children, authorizes punitive damages for victims of those offenses, and directs Board of Ed. to require policies related to those offenses (Became law, 24 Apr 2024). Section 7(2).Include within the written policy a prohibition of private, explicit, or pornographic images generated with artificial intelligence.
  11. Utah, HB 44, School Security Personnel Standards (Became law, 19 Mar 2026). Section 7, 53G-7-227(2)(a).shall establish a policy that allows a student to use a cellphone, smart watch, AI
  12. Tennessee, SB 1711, AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, relative to artificial intelligence (Became law, 19 Mar 2024). Senate Amendment 1 (SA0527), Section 1(b), (d).The board of trustees of the University of Tennessee, the board of regents, and each local governing board of trustees of a state university shall adopt a policy regarding the use of artificial intelligence technology by students, faculty, and staff for instructional and assignment purposes. The policy must be implemented no later than July 1, 2025.
  13. Maryland, SB 818, Information Technology - Artificial Intelligence - Policies and Procedures (Artificial Intelligence Governance Act of 2024) (Became law, 9 May 2024). Sec. 1, new Subtitle 8, applicability (B)(3).EACH PUBLIC SENIOR HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTION AND BALTIMORE CITY COMMUNITY COLLEGE SHALL ESTABLISH POLICIES AND PROCEDURES THAT ARE FUNCTIONALLY COMPATIBLE WITH THE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ADOPTED UNDER § 3.5–804(A) OF THIS SUBTITLE
  14. Georgia, Board of Regents Policy 6.28 Artificial Intelligence in Academic Contexts (Published Dec 2025). Source.All institutions within the University System of Georgia shall develop and implement policies or procedures that govern the ethical, responsible, and secure use of artificial intelligence (AI) in academic contexts.
  15. New York, SUNY Systemwide Artificial Intelligence Policy (Published 30 Apr 2026). Institutional Requirements.SUNY institutions shall publish AI policies and/or update relevant existing policies no later than December 31, 2026.
  16. Florida, State Board of Education rules on artificial intelligence and educational technology (Florida College System institutions) (Published 16 Sep 2026). Source.Districts, charter school boards, and Florida College System institutions must adopt transparent policies governing AI and other educational technologies.
  17. Indiana, HB 1296, Artificial intelligence inventory and policies (Did not pass, 2025). Digest.Requires school corporations and charter schools to adopt, post, and communicate to students a school policy regarding artificial intelligence.
  18. Hawaii, SB 2212, Relating to Artificial Intelligence Literacy Education (Did not pass, 2026). Section 1, proposed HRS 302A-A(d).Each public school shall develop an artificial intelligence policy in consultation with its students' parents and the local community
  19. West Virginia, HB 5205, West Virginia Balance Act (Did not pass, 2026). §18-5-58(c)-(d).A county board of education shall produce and adopt an artificial intelligence use policy based on the model policy.
  20. Arizona, HB 4040, Public schools; universities; AI policies (Did not pass, 2026). Section 1, new 15-120.08(A).each school district governing board and charter school governing body shall adopt policies and procedures relating to artificial intelligence that include the following
  21. North Carolina, H 301, Social Media & AI Safety (Did not pass, 2026). Sec. 3.(b), new G.S. 115C-47(73).Local boards of education shall adopt a policy on the use of artificial intelligence by students and staff for educational
  22. Florida, SB 1194, Artificial Intelligence in Education (Did not pass, 2026). Sec. 3, new 1006.07(2)(p).Policies on the use of artificial intelligence pursuant to s. 1001.03(20).
  23. Illinois, SB 416, EDUCATION-TECH (Passed one chamber, 7 May 2026). Section 10.By the 2027-2028 school year, the school board of each school district shall adopt a policy that, at a minimum:
  24. Pennsylvania, HB 2786, In student supports, providing for artificial intelligence policy (In committee, 25 Sep 2026). Section 1303.3-A(a).No later than the beginning of the 2027-2028 school year, the governing body of each school entity and nonpublic school shall adopt a policy related to the use of artificial intelligence technology, programs and platforms.
  25. Iowa, HF 2153, A bill for an act requiring community colleges, school districts, and institutions under the control of the state board of regents to adopt policies related to the use of artificial intelligence by students and employees (In committee, 26 Jan 2026). Section 260C.14, new subsection.adopt a policy related to artificial intelligence that describes all of the following: (a) When a student attending the community college may utilize artificial intelligence during classroom instructional time and during the completion of course or program work.

About this article

Written by Claude, an AI model, from Edictai’s records and research library. Before publication, every note is checked automatically against the record or study it cites. Descriptions are as of the data release named above.

Corrections: none.

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