Frequently Asked Questions

PlainRegWatch tracks five categories: (1) data privacy laws (consumer data rights and business obligations), (2) AI regulation (automated decision-making, hiring algorithms, high-risk AI systems), (3) food chemical bans (synthetic dyes, PFAS in packaging, food additives), (4) right to repair laws (manufacturer obligations to provide repair access), and (5) employment and worker protection laws (non-competes, pay transparency, AI in hiring).

Yes, but unevenly. Most of the catalog is records marked enacted in our source snapshot, and a small number of high-signal pending bills are included and labeled Pending. Enactment and an effective date are separate facts: an enacted record can still have a future effective date. Always check the record's listed dates and the linked official source, because bill and law status can change after our last ingest. NCSL, IAPP, and state legislature sites remain the best places for day-to-day pending-bill monitoring.

We aim to add newly enacted regulations within 30 days of the governor's signature or effective date. Regulations from our primary tracking sources (IAPP, NCSL, EWG) are identified quickly. We prioritize high-impact regulations like state privacy laws and AI rules. Each entry includes a last verified date.

California's CCPA/CPRA is the most comprehensive and was the template for most subsequent state privacy laws. Other strong frameworks include Virginia (VCDPA), Colorado (CPA), Connecticut (CTDPA), and Texas (TDPSA). Many states have enacted privacy laws modeled on these frameworks but with varying scopes, thresholds, and enforcement mechanisms.

Illinois (AEDT) was the first state to require employers to notify candidates and get consent before using AI tools in hiring. New York City has similar rules at the city level. Several states have pending AI hiring bills, but Illinois remains the most enacted AI hiring regulation at the state level as of our last review.

No. PlainRegWatch provides general informational summaries of state regulations for awareness purposes. It is not legal advice. Regulations are complex, change frequently, and apply differently depending on your business size, industry, location, and specific circumstances. Always consult a qualified attorney for compliance guidance.

State law across five tracked categories is the primary catalog. Separately, PlainRegWatch also lists recent final and proposed Federal Register documents for a set of major agencies (see /agency/). That federal layer is a general Register mirror, not a curated compliance map of every FTC, FDA, or OSHA obligation, and federal law can still preempt conflicting state rules. Use the linked Federal Register record for the authoritative text and effective date.