Texas vs. the AI machine? Legislature leaves bills in committee for now

As the 89th Texas Legislative Session comes to a close, bills are now making their way to Governor Greg Abbott’s desk to be potentially signed into Texas law. These bills include the infamous private school vouchers, reformation to child support services, and restrictions on cell phone use within the classroom. But what about artificial intelligence (AI) and its place in Texas’s workspace?

Texas Legislature is in session

Every two years, the Texas Legislature introduces and votes on legislation during a 140-day lawmaking session. This year, the session runs from January 14 through June 2, 2025. In this time frame, the legislature has introduced thousands of bills, read them in the House or Senate Chamber, referred them to a committee, and voted to either approve or reject them as Texas law.

This session has proved that AI is on the agenda in the Texas Legislature. AI is also making headlines in Executive Orders and the media. On January 31, 2025, Abbott issued a proclamation prohibiting the use of AI affiliated with China and the Chinese Communist Party on any government-issued device. But what about all other types of AI and their use on Texas residents’ devices? What about AI in schools? At work?

These questions have yet to be addressed by Texas legislators, but it also seems to be an issue on the rise, especially with the growing popularity of AI in Americans’ everyday lives.