Written by Jim Miller, Founder of Bellalu AI
Start with what the laws actually cover
If you read the headlines, you might think every AI call now needs a legal script. The reality is narrower, and the counts depend on who is counting. One compliance review tallies ten new chatbot laws passed by nine states this year1. Another guide puts the number of states regulating chatbot disclosure at 192. The difference comes from what each one counts as a chatbot law, so do not build your plan around a single number.
Inbound calls are the gray zone
An AI receptionist answering your own line is treated differently from an AI making outbound calls. One call-recording guide says that as of September 2026, no federal rule requires AI disclosure on inbound calls3. Federal rules on AI voices are still moving. One guide describes an FCC proposal to require disclosure at the start of a call as still pending4. Another says federal rules already require AI-generated calls to disclose at the start, but it frames that duty around outbound calls5. The sources disagree, so confirm the current federal status before you rely on either reading.
Call recording is a separate question. The same recording guide notes that if you record a call, the rules depend on your state3. That means your AI can be compliant on disclosure and still create a problem if your recording setup does not match the state you are calling from.
Utah is the rule to watch
Utah has the clearest duty for a business using AI with customers. A seller using generative AI in a consumer transaction must say it is AI if the customer asks. Regulated professions have to disclose more proactively6. Violations can draw fines of up to $2,500 each, and the law does not accept "the AI said it" as a defense6. For a contractor, the practical takeaway is simple: a customer who asks whether they are talking to a person should get a straight, honest answer every time.
Texas is narrower than it sounds
Texas's TRAIGA law took effect January 1, 2026, but its disclosure duty covers government agencies and health care providers7. A plumbing or HVAC company is not the main target. Still, that does not mean you are free of Texas rules, since other laws can apply to your calls.
The dates that matter
Utah's law has been in effect since May 1, 20248. Hawaii started enforcing its chatbot disclosure duty on July 14, 20269. Washington's version waits until January 1, 2027 before it binds businesses9. Colorado's replacement law, SB 26-189, also takes effect January 1, 202710. The chart below shows the key dates in one place.
| State AI chatbot disclosure law dates | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| May 1, 2024 | Jan 1, 2026 | Jul 14, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 |
| Utah AI Policy Act | Texas TRAIGA (agencies) | Hawaii disclosure duty | Washington and Colorado |
| Dates only, as reported in the sources named below |
Figures show potential opportunity, not guaranteed results.
What to do this month
You do not need a legal department to take sensible steps. Start with these:
- Open every AI-answered call by saying the caller is speaking with an AI assistant, and offer a route to a person.
- Write one disclosure that meets the strictest "clear and conspicuous" test you can find, then use it in every state you serve. One guide recommends this approach1.
- Check your call recording settings against the rules in each state where your customers are.
- Keep a dated copy of every call script and disclosure, so you can show what was in place and when.
If you want a plain-English review of how your AI answers calls, what it says, and what you record, talk with Bellalu about an AI Business Audit at https://www.getbellalu.com/audit. We will map your current setup against the rules that apply to your states and point out what to fix. This is not legal advice, so bring your attorney in for the final call.
Sources
- Adherent: US State AI Chatbot Laws in 2026: What Compliance Teams Need to Know
- Entagl: US AI Chatbot Disclosure Laws in 2026
- FusionCalling: AI Call Recording Laws by State (2026)
- EveCalls: Is AI Cold Calling Illegal? How to Comply With New FCC Rules & Global Regulations in 2026
- GetAssay: State-by-State Guide to AI Calling Laws (2026)
- QueryNow: AI Chatbot Disclosure Laws for Ecommerce Brands (2026)
- Conferbot: AI Chatbot Disclosure Laws by State (2026): US and EU Guide
- Stackcyber: State AI Chatbot Laws: Compliance Guide for Businesses
- PrivacyTerms: State AI Chatbot Disclosure Laws 2026: What's Actually Live
- AI Disclosure & Transparency Laws by State 2026: AI Disclosure & Transparency Laws by State 2026: Watermarks, Chatbots, Synthetic Media