====== Texas Responsible AI Governance Act (TRAIGA) ======

The Texas Responsible Artificial Intelligence Governance Act (TRAIGA), codified as HB 149, was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on June 22, 2025, and took effect on January 1, 2026. ((Source: [[https://regulations.ai/regulations/texas-traiga-hb-149-2025|Regulations.AI — Texas TRAIGA HB 149]])) It makes Texas one of the first US states with comprehensive AI governance legislation, establishing foundational prohibitions and governance structures while reflecting the state's business-friendly regulatory philosophy.

===== Scope and Applicability =====

TRAIGA applies broadly to any individual or entity conducting business in Texas, offering products or services to Texas residents, or developing or deploying AI systems within the state. ((Source: [[https://www.ropesgray.com/en/insights/alerts/2025/06/navigating-traiga-texas-new-ai-compliance-framework|Ropes & Gray — Navigating TRAIGA]])) This includes Texas-based, out-of-state, and international organizations whose AI systems are accessible to Texas users.

The law defines AI systems as any machine-based system that, for any explicit or implicit objective, infers from inputs how to generate outputs. ((Source: [[https://www.blankrome.com/publications/new-ai-regulations-come-play-texas-responsible-artificial-intelligence-governance-act|Blank Rome — Texas TRAIGA]]))

===== Prohibited Practices =====

TRAIGA establishes four categories of prohibited AI use:

  - **Behavioral Manipulation**: Developing or deploying AI systems with intent to manipulate human behavior to incite or encourage self-harm, harm to others, or criminal activity ((Source: [[https://www.blankrome.com/publications/new-ai-regulations-come-play-texas-responsible-artificial-intelligence-governance-act|Blank Rome — Texas TRAIGA]]))
  - **Constitutional Rights Infringement**: AI systems developed with the sole intent to infringe, restrict, or impair rights guaranteed under the Constitution
  - **Unlawful Discrimination**: AI systems intended to discriminate against protected classes (race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability) in violation of state or federal law ((Source: [[https://www.ropesgray.com/en/insights/alerts/2025/06/navigating-traiga-texas-new-ai-compliance-framework|Ropes & Gray — Navigating TRAIGA]]))
  - **Prohibited Content**: AI systems intended for producing or distributing certain sexually explicit content

Governmental entities are additionally barred from using AI to assign social scores or similar valuations that could result in detrimental or disproportionate treatment. ((Source: [[https://www.ropesgray.com/en/insights/alerts/2025/06/navigating-traiga-texas-new-ai-compliance-framework|Ropes & Gray — Navigating TRAIGA]]))

===== Governance Structures =====

TRAIGA creates an AI Advisory Council tasked with issuing best-practice guidelines and shaping enforcement priorities. ((Source: [[https://www.pertamapartners.com/insights/texas-traiga-responsible-ai-governance-act-guide|Pertama Partners — Texas TRAIGA Guide]])) The law also establishes a 36-month regulatory sandbox to allow innovation within supervised boundaries. ((Source: [[https://regulations.ai/regulations/texas-traiga-hb-149-2025|Regulations.AI — Texas TRAIGA HB 149]]))

===== Disclosure Requirements =====

Plain-language disclosure is required when individuals interact with AI instead of humans. ((Source: [[https://www.pertamapartners.com/insights/texas-traiga-responsible-ai-governance-act-guide|Pertama Partners — Texas TRAIGA Guide]])) This transparency provision ensures consumers are aware when AI systems are making or influencing decisions that affect them.

===== Government Entity Obligations =====

Government entities face additional requirements including AI system inventory, impact assessment, and reporting obligations that go beyond the requirements placed on private-sector deployers. ((Source: [[https://www.pertamapartners.com/insights/texas-traiga-responsible-ai-governance-act-guide|Pertama Partners — Texas TRAIGA Guide]]))

===== Legislative History =====

The initial December 2024 draft proposed a sweeping regulatory scheme modeled after the Colorado AI Act and EU AI Act, focusing on high-risk AI systems with substantial compliance requirements for developers and deployers. March 2025 amendments significantly scaled back the scope, resulting in legislation that establishes foundational prohibitions and governance structures while avoiding prescriptive compliance mandates. ((Source: [[https://regulations.ai/regulations/texas-traiga-hb-149-2025|Regulations.AI — Texas TRAIGA HB 149]]))

===== Comparison with Other Frameworks =====

Unlike the EU AI Act's detailed high-risk classification system with extensive technical requirements, TRAIGA focuses on prohibited practices rather than broad disclosure requirements. ((Source: [[https://www.texastowinglawyer.com/blog/khaf9awy5nlthrga4loqpx79d0e7w9-XK72O|The Walters Firm — TRAIGA Compliance]])) Compared to the Colorado AI Act's prescriptive approach, TRAIGA takes a lighter regulatory touch while still addressing key AI safety concerns. The law's future applicability is potentially clouded by the possibility of federal preemption on state AI regulations. ((Source: [[https://www.ropesgray.com/en/insights/alerts/2025/06/navigating-traiga-texas-new-ai-compliance-framework|Ropes & Gray — Navigating TRAIGA]]))

===== See Also =====

  * [[ai_accountability_mandates|AI Accountability Mandates]]
  * [[eu_ai_act_high_risk|EU AI Act High-Risk Classification]]
  * [[hitl_governance|Human-in-the-Loop (HITL) Governance]]

===== References =====