AI ethics rules by state
Every jurisdiction with an official instrument on lawyers using generative AI, grouped by state. States with a deep-dive page link to a full plain-English breakdown; every instrument links its primary source either way.
States with instruments
AL · full breakdown
| Instrument | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Formal Opinion 2026-01: Artificial Intelligence Use — Best Practices Under Existing Professional Conduct Rules | Formal ethics opinion | 2026 |
Alaska · full breakdown
| Instrument | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Ethics Opinion 2025-1: Generative Artificial Intelligence and the Practice of Law | Formal ethics opinion | April 23, 2025 |
Arizona · full breakdown
| Instrument | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Generative AI: Ethical Best Practices for Lawyers and Judges | Official guidance | November 14, 2024 |
Arkansas · full breakdown
| Instrument | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas Supreme Court Administrative Order No. 25: Artificial Intelligence (adopted, 2025 Ark. 220) | Court rule or policy | December 11, 2025 |
| Amendments to the Arkansas Rules of Professional Conduct: Preamble paragraph 22 and Rule 5.3 (adopted, 2025 Ark. 221) | Court rule or policy | December 11, 2025 |
California · full breakdown
| Instrument | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Practical Guidance for the Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence in the Practice of Law | Official guidance | November 16, 2023 |
| Proposed Amendments to the Rules of Professional Conduct Related to Artificial Intelligence | Proposed rule | March 13, 2026 |
| SB 574: Attorneys, arbitrators, judicial officers, and alternative resolution providers (2025-2026) | Proposed rule | July 2, 2026 |
Colorado · full breakdown
| Instrument | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Rule Change 2026(02): Colorado Rules of Professional Conduct (Preamble and Scope paragraph [20A]; Rule 1.1 comments [8] and [9]) | Court rule or policy | January 8, 2026 |
District of Columbia · full breakdown
| Instrument | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Ethics Opinion 388: Attorneys' Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence in Client Matters | Formal ethics opinion | April 2024 |
Florida · full breakdown
| Instrument | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Florida Bar Ethics Opinion 24-1 | Formal ethics opinion | January 19, 2024 |
| Amendment to Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.515(d)(2) (accuracy of cited authorities) | Court rule or policy | June 15, 2026 |
Georgia · full breakdown
| Instrument | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Generative AI Toolkit | Official guidance | February 20, 2026 |
Hawaii · full breakdown
| Instrument | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Committee on Artificial Intelligence and the Courts: Final Report to the Hawaii Supreme Court (SCMF-24-0000305) | Bar or court report | December 15, 2025 |
Illinois · full breakdown
| Instrument | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois Supreme Court Policy on Artificial Intelligence | Court rule or policy | December 18, 2024 |
| The Illinois Attorney's Guide to Implementing AI | Official guidance | October 24, 2025 |
Kentucky · full breakdown
| Instrument | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Ethics Opinion KBA E-457: The Ethical Use of Artificial Intelligence in the Practice of Law | Formal ethics opinion | March 15, 2024 |
Louisiana · full breakdown
| Instrument | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Letter re 'The Emergence of Artificial Intelligence' from the Louisiana Supreme Court to the Louisiana State Bar Association | Official guidance | January 22, 2024 |
Massachusetts · full breakdown
| Instrument | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| The Wild West of Artificial Intelligence (bar counsel practice article) | Official guidance | 2024 |
Michigan · full breakdown
| Instrument | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial Intelligence for Attorneys: Frequently Asked Questions | Official guidance | November 18, 2024 |
Minnesota · full breakdown
| Instrument | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| MSBA AI Working Group Final Report: Implications of Large Language Models on UPL and Access to Justice | Bar or court report | June 2024 |
Mississippi · full breakdown
| Instrument | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Ethics Opinion No. 267 | Formal ethics opinion | November 14, 2024 |
| AI Tools for Lawyers: A Practical Guide | Official guidance | July 1, 2025 |
Missouri · full breakdown
| Instrument | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Informal Opinion 2024-11 | Official guidance | April 25, 2024 |
Montana · full breakdown
| Instrument | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Thirteenth Judicial District (Yellowstone County) Local Rules of Practice, Rule 35: Artificial Intelligence | Court rule or policy | January 1, 2026 |
| Fourth Judicial District (Missoula & Mineral Counties) Rules of Practice, Rule 3.G: Pleading Requirements for Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence | Court rule or policy | October 31, 2025 |
National (ABA)
| Instrument | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| ABA Formal Opinion 512: Generative Artificial Intelligence Tools | Formal ethics opinion | July 29, 2024 |
| Rules Suggestion 26-CV-21: proposed FRCP 11(a) certification that cited legal authorities exist | Proposed rule | May 29, 2026 |
| Circuit Advisory Committee Note to Ninth Circuit Rule 32-1 (signature attestation and generative AI) | Official guidance | December 1, 2025 |
New Hampshire · full breakdown
| Instrument | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Understanding Generative Artificial Intelligence and The Potential for Discrimination and Bias | Official guidance | October 30, 2024 |
| Ethics of Drafting Documents with Artificial Intelligence | Official guidance | September 10, 2024 |
| Ethics of Using Artificial Intelligence in Practice | Official guidance | May 15, 2024 |
New Jersey · full breakdown
| Instrument | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Preliminary Guidelines on New Jersey Lawyers' Use of Artificial Intelligence | Official guidance | January 24, 2024 |
New Mexico · full breakdown
| Instrument | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Formal Ethics Advisory Opinion 2024-004: Using Generative Artificial Intelligence in the Practice of Law | Formal ethics opinion | September 24, 2024 |
New York · full breakdown
| Instrument | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 22 NYCRR Part 161: Use of Artificial Intelligence Technology | Court rule or policy | June 1, 2026 |
| Formal Opinion 2024-5: Ethical Obligations Relating to Generative Artificial Intelligence | Formal ethics opinion | August 7, 2024 |
| Formal Opinion 2025-6: Ethical Issues Affecting Use of AI to Record, Transcribe, and Summarize Conversations with Clients | Formal ethics opinion | December 22, 2025 |
| Report and Recommendations of the NYSBA Task Force on Artificial Intelligence | Bar or court report | April 6, 2024 |
North Carolina · full breakdown
| Instrument | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 Formal Ethics Opinion 1: Use of Artificial Intelligence in a Law Practice | Formal ethics opinion | November 1, 2024 |
North Dakota · full breakdown
| Instrument | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Public Notice on the Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) | Official guidance | June 1, 2026 |
Ohio · full breakdown
| Instrument | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial Intelligence for Lawyers and Judicial Officers — Ohio Ethics Guide | Official guidance | April 2026 |
Oklahoma · full breakdown
| Instrument | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Rule 1.17, Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence, Rules of the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals (2026 OK CR 7) | Court rule or policy | February 18, 2026 |
Oregon · full breakdown
| Instrument | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Formal Opinion 2025-205: Artificial Intelligence Tools | Formal ethics opinion | February 2025 |
Pennsylvania · full breakdown
| Instrument | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Joint Formal Opinion 2024-200: Ethical Issues Regarding the Use of Artificial Intelligence | Formal ethics opinion | May 2024 |
Rhode Island · full breakdown
| Instrument | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| In re Amendments to Article V, Rule 1.1 (Professional Conduct) and Adoption of Interim Generative AI Guidelines | Court rule or policy | June 17, 2026 |
Texas · full breakdown
| Instrument | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Opinion 705 | Formal ethics opinion | February 2025 |
Utah · full breakdown
| Instrument | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Using ChatGPT in Our Practices: Ethical Considerations (bar article) | Official guidance | May 2023 |
Vermont · full breakdown
| Instrument | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| VJCAIC First Annual Report (lawyer guidance in Appendix G) | Bar or court report | March 2025 |
Virginia · full breakdown
| Instrument | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Legal Ethics Opinion 1901: Reasonable Fees and the Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence | Formal ethics opinion | November 24, 2025 |
| VBA Task Force on Artificial Intelligence: Model AI Policy | Official guidance | 2024 |
| Generative AI guidance (VSB Ethics and Conduct page) | Official guidance | 2024 |
Washington · full breakdown
| Instrument | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| WSBA Advisory Opinion 2025-05: Artificial Intelligence-Enabled Tools in Law Practice | Formal ethics opinion | 2025 |
West Virginia · full breakdown
| Instrument | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Legal Ethics Opinion 24-01: Artificial Intelligence | Formal ethics opinion | June 2024 |
Wisconsin · full breakdown
| Instrument | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Ethical Dilemma: Ethical Considerations When Using Generative Artificial Intelligence | Official guidance | October 4, 2024 |
Wyoming · full breakdown
| Instrument | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Transitioning to Generative AI? Don't Leave the Rules of Professional Conduct Behind | Official guidance | February 2024 |
States with no AI-specific instrument yet
These jurisdictions had issued no AI-specific opinion, rule, or guidance as of 2026-07-21. Each page explains what governs lawyers using AI there in the meantime.
For licensed attorneys and firm operators. This site is legal information, not legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is formed by using it. Rules change; verify against the primary sources linked on every page and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting.