As the number of artificial intelligence (AI)-related measures introduced in U.S. state and territorial legislatures continues to grow, policymakers, advocates and consumers can seize the moment to assure that the technology is promoting fair housing practices.
That is the conclusion of a recent study which examined the number and content of state-level legislation aimed at AI, noting that the volume of introduced bills increased 255 percent between 2023 and 2024, from 135 measures in 2023 to 480 measures in 2024. Already in 2025, 80 measures have been introduced.
The study was undertaken by the University of Michigan’s Science, Technology, and Public Policy program (STPP), housed at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, in conjunction with the National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA).
While the majority of such measures concern regulating government use, elections, education and training, and effects on labor, in 2024, 10 addressed the intersecting issues of AI and housing (compared to only two in 2023), and two more have been introduced in 2025.
Those intersecting issues concern such matters as regulating the use of algorithmic systems to set rental prices, and setting guidelines for landlords' use of automated tools in other types of housing decisions. For example, one New Hampshire bill would have prohibited evictions resulting from price fixing algorithms used by landlords.
Nia Knox, Ford School MPP ‘25, worked on the project with NFHA’s Responsible AI Lab under the leadership of Dr. Michael Akinwumi.
“The surge in AI legislation reflects both urgency and uncertainty in how states are preparing for the role of artificial intelligence in critical domains like housing. It’s a pivotal moment to ensure equity and accountability are designed into the systems,” Akinwumi noted.
Knox commented, "Looking at proposed AI policies over time, state-level AI legislation has exploded in the last year. It feels like everyone is talking about AI these days, and this research showed that's true in statehouses as well."
"We can no longer treat housing and technology as separate policy silos. With algorithmic tools now influencing who gets access to shelter, state legislation must prioritize transparency and fairness to protect the most vulnerable," Akinwumi added.
This project was conducted under STPP’s Community Partnerships Initiative which is funded by the Ford Foundation.
The report can be read here: The Landscape of AI Legislation: Opportunities for Housing