Texas Responsible Artificial Intelligence Governance Act (TRAIGA)
State of Texas, enacted by the Texas Legislature and signed into law by the Governor. Enforcement authority is vested in the Texas Attorney General’s Office and relevant state agencies.
Promote responsible AI development and use while protecting individuals and public safety by prohibiting harmful AI practices, advancing transparency, and encouraging oversight and governance of AI systems.
Why This Framework Matters
The Texas Responsible AI Governance Act is one of the first state-level generative AI statutes in the U.S. with binding obligations. Unlike voluntary guidance, this law imposes civil penalties and specific prohibitions that can materially affect how organisations design, deploy, and oversee AI systems.
From a business and risk perspective, the Act:
- Shifts liability onto AI deployers even if the developer is external;
- Imposes civil financial penalties for prohibited AI uses;
- Establishes new transparency and disclosure requirements for governmental use of AI;
- Signals regulators’ expectations for AI safety, fairness, and consumer protection.
Aligning with Texas Responsible AI Governance Act is critical not just to avoid fines but to demonstrate defensible governance and alignment with evolving regulatory expectations in the U.S. legal landscape.
Key Areas Covered by the Framework (Regulatory highlights)
The Texas Responsible AI Governance Act establishes a framework of prohibitions, obligations, and oversight mechanisms for AI systems operating in Texas:
Prohibited AI Uses
The law prohibits the development or deployment of AI systems for certain harmful purposes, including those intentionally designed to:
- Discriminate against protected groups;
- Manipulate behaviour to cause self-harm, harm to others, or criminal conduct;
- Produce or distribute child pornography or unlawful deepfakes;
- Violate constitutional rights.
Transparency Requirements
Governmental entities must disclose when users are interacting with an AI system, fostering transparency in public services and citizen-facing AI.
Biometric and Identification Controls
The law clarifies consent requirements for capturing and storing biometric identifiers (e.g., facial recognition, voice prints) and imposes restrictions on their use, particularly for unique identification without explicit consent.
Regulatory Sandbox and Advisory Role
The Texas Responsible AI Governance Act creates a regulatory sandbox program to allow AI developers to test innovations in controlled environments and establishes the Texas Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council to guide state policy and improve oversight mechanisms.
Governance, Documentation & Controls
Under the Texas Responsible AI Governance Act, organisations have to employ good governance practices to manage risks.
- Documentation of risk and usage assessments regarding how AI systems are designed and implemented;
- Transparency and disclosure records of systems used in public agencies;
- Consent records for biometric data capture and identity processing;
- Prohibited use safeguards, including those preventing harmful or discriminatory effects;
- Oversight and reporting mechanisms that suit participation in the sandbox and council.
There is emerging guidance out of Texas that implementations based on schemes such as the NIST AI Risk Management Framework may assist compliance defense.
How Our Platform Enables Compliance
Adeptiv AI helps organisations operationalise TRAIGA by embedding its key requirements into governance workflows:
Stage-based compliance mapping
Maps TRAIGA-relevant controls to each stage of AI use, from design through deployment and monitoring.
Audit-Ready Documentation
Generates structured compliance evidence, including prohibited use assessments, consent logs, and transparency decisions.
Ownership Attribution
Assigns responsibility for compliance controls to specific owners, clarifying accountability.
Policy Repository
Centralises all documentation, risk assessments, and governance records for defensible review.
Monitoring and Alerts
Tracks ongoing compliance status, surfacing gaps related to prohibited uses or disclosure obligations.
This approach helps organisations demonstrate reasonable care and diligence while managing AI risk under a statute with evolving enforcement expectations.
Penalties & Liability Exposure
TRAIGA imposes civil penalties for violations, enforced by the Texas Attorney General:
- Up to $200,000 per violation for prohibited AI uses and failure to cure within the notice period;
- Lower fines may apply for other non-compliance;
- Only the Attorney General may prosecute — there is no private right of action.
Failure to comply not only exposes organisations to financial penalties but can also trigger regulatory investigations, reputational harm, and operational disruption.
Who Should Pay Attention
The Texas Responsible AI Governance Act affects a wide range of stakeholders:
- AI developers and technology vendors servicing Texas clients;
- Enterprises deploying AI in hiring, customer service, healthcare, or finance;
- Public agencies and government AI users;
- Legal, compliance, risk, and product teams;
- Boards and executives overseeing AI strategy and privacy.
Organisations doing business in Texas or whose systems affect Texas residents must treat the Texas Responsible AI Governance Act as a core AI governance requirement and integrate its controls into enterprise risk management.
Update & Implementation Status
TRAIGA (HB 149) was signed into law on June 22, 2025, and goes into effect January 1, 2026. Enforcement will be led by the Texas Attorney General’s Office, supported by state agencies and the Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council created by the statute.
As implementation begins, organisations should prioritise compliance preparation, documentation, and governance frameworks to manage AI risks and regulatory expectations effectively.