New York just signed the strongest AI safety law in the country, and they did it one week after President Trump tried to stop them. The RAISE Act is now law, requiring AI companies to report safety incidents within 72 hours and creating new oversight powers the federal government doesn’t have.
This isn’t just a policy disagreement. It’s a direct showdown between state regulators and a White House that wants AI companies left alone.
The quick answer: New York’s RAISE Act requires AI developers to follow safety protocols and report incidents fast. Trump’s executive order tried to block states from making their own AI rules. New York signed the law anyway, calling it a defeat for “AI oligarchs” trying to create a “Wild West for AI.”
What Is the New York RAISE Act?
The Responsible AI Safety and Education Act, or RAISE Act, was signed by Governor Kathy Hochul on December 19, 2025. According to Assemblymember Alex Bores, it’s now “the strongest AI transparency law in the country.”
Here’s what it requires:
72-hour incident reporting. If an AI system causes a critical safety incident, companies must report it within 72 hours. For comparison, California’s AI law gives companies 15 days.
New oversight office. The law creates a new AI oversight office within the Department of Finance with broader authority than California’s equivalent.
Transparency requirements. AI developers must disclose safety protocols and be accountable for how their frontier models behave.
What Trump’s Executive Order Tried to Do
On December 11, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order titled “Ensuring a National Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence.”
The order argues that a patchwork of different state AI laws would “hinder innovation” and hurt American competitiveness. It directs the Attorney General to create a task force specifically to challenge state AI laws in court.
The grounds for challenges would include claims that state laws “unconstitutionally regulate interstate commerce” or are “pre-empted by existing Federal regulations.”
In plain English: the White House wants one set of AI rules (theirs), and they’re willing to sue states that disagree.
Why New York Signed It Anyway
According to Axios, New York officials weren’t intimidated. They said they “defeated last-ditch attempts from AI oligarchs to wipe out this bill” and “defeated Trump’s — and his donors’ — attempt to stop RAISE through executive action greenlighting a Wild West for AI.”
Governor Hochul’s statement was more diplomatic but still pointed: “By enacting the RAISE Act, New York is once again leading the nation in setting a strong and sensible standard for frontier AI safety.”
The timing wasn’t accidental. Signing the law one week after Trump’s executive order was a deliberate statement.
What This Means for You
If you live in New York or use AI services from companies based there, here’s what changes:
Faster disclosure of AI problems. When something goes wrong with an AI system, you’ll likely hear about it sooner. Companies can’t sit on safety incidents for weeks.
More accountability. AI developers operating in New York now have to document their safety protocols. This creates a paper trail that didn’t exist before.
Legal uncertainty. The federal government might sue to block this law. If that happens, courts will decide whether states can regulate AI or if it’s a federal-only issue.
For now, New York’s rules stand. But this fight is just getting started.
The Bigger Picture: States vs. Federal Government
New York isn’t alone in pushing state-level AI regulation. Florida passed its own AI Bill of Rights earlier this month, also defying the federal push for uniformity.
The argument from states is simple: the federal government isn’t acting fast enough, and AI risks are real now. Waiting for Congress to agree on comprehensive AI legislation could take years.
The argument from the White House is also simple: inconsistent state rules make it impossible for AI companies to operate nationally. A company following New York’s rules might violate Texas’s rules, creating chaos.
Both sides have valid points. The question is who gets to decide.
The Honest Take
This is a political fight dressed up as a policy debate. Trump’s executive order favors AI companies who donated to his campaign. New York’s law favors consumer protection and state autonomy.
Neither approach is perfect. Too much regulation could slow AI development. Too little could let dangerous systems operate without oversight.
What’s clear is that AI governance is now a major battleground, and your protections depend heavily on where you live and which side wins in court.
Common Questions About the New York AI Safety Bill
Does the RAISE Act affect all AI tools?
No. It primarily targets “frontier AI models” — the most powerful AI systems from major developers. Your basic AI writing assistant probably isn’t covered.
Can Trump’s executive order actually block state laws?
Not directly. Executive orders aren’t laws. The order creates a legal framework to challenge state laws in court, but judges will ultimately decide.
How is New York’s law different from California’s?
New York requires faster incident reporting (72 hours vs. 15 days) and creates a new oversight office with broader authority. It also includes stronger transparency requirements.
Related Reading
Want to understand the AI regulation landscape? Check out these articles:
DeSantis AI Bill of Rights — Why Florida is also defying federal AI policy
Trump AI Executive Order — What one federal framework means for your apps
Start Here — New to AI? Begin with our beginner guides.
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