By Paul Hamby
Missouri lawmakers are raising alarms about the growing influence of artificial intelligence (AI) as citizens increasingly interact with AI in their daily lives, often without realizing they are engaging with a computer rather than a human. While AI holds potential benefits when wielded responsibly, concerns have emerged about its misuse, prompting legislative action in the state.
In response to fears surrounding the malicious use of AI, eleven bills have been prefiled by Missouri legislators. Among the notable voices in this conversation is Elon Musk, who has long warned about the rapid development of AI technologies. Musk stated, “The pace of progress in artificial intelligence … is incredibly fast. Unless you have direct exposure to groups like DeepMind, you have no idea how fast—it is growing at a pace close to exponential. The risk of something seriously dangerous happening is in the five-year time frame. 10 years at most.” This cautionary note, posted on Twitter over a decade ago, continues to resonate today.
One of the key legislative efforts comes from Senator Mike Moon, whose bill, SB859, aims to clarify the legal status of AI systems. The legislation stipulates that AI shall be declared a non-sentient entity and cannot be recognized as a person, spouse, or having any managerial role within a company. The bill further asserts that AI systems are not legal entities capable of owning property; any assets tied to these systems will instead belong to the humans or organizations responsible for their function.
Alongside SB859, Senator Brad Hudson has introduced SB1324, which seeks to establish the “Missouri Artificial Intelligence Transparency and Accountability Act.” This bill mandates that any AI-generated content be clearly labeled as such. In cases where the content depicts real individuals, additional disclaimers are required, and providers must verify the authenticity of this content while obtaining consent from the depicted individuals, except in cases of parody or satire.
The push for regulation comes amidst pushback from major technology companies that have expressed a desire to curb state-level regulations. In December 2025, at the behest of these firms, former President Donald Trump issued an executive order prohibiting states from regulating AI. Despite this, thirty-eight states managed to implement various forms of AI regulation, addressing issues such as the prohibition of stalking via AI-powered robots and restrictions on AI systems designed to manipulate behavior. David Sacks, chair of a White House technology board, noted that over 1,000 AI regulation bills are currently pending across state legislatures.
Legal scholars point out that the federal government lacks the authority to ban states from enforcing their own AI regulations, as enshrined in the 10th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which reserves powers not explicitly given to the federal government for the states or the people. This constitutional protection raises the possibility that Missouri’s current legislators may take a stand against federal overreach in 2026, advocating for the rights and sovereignty of their citizens.
As the debate over AI regulation intensifies, Missouri lawmakers are positioning themselves at the forefront of a crucial national discourse. The outcome of these legislative efforts could set significant precedents for how AI is managed, regulated, and integrated into societal frameworks across the United States.
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