Taken together, these findings point to two distinct barriers to AI governance. First, a material barrier—driven by limited fiscal and institutional capacity—prevents some states from acting even when risks are recognized. Second, an ideological barrier, rooted in regulatory skepticism and market-oriented political preferences, constrains action... See more

Taken together, these patterns suggest that Republican governors and partisan alignment contribute to ideological and institutional inertia, while older population bases further reinforce legislative inaction. In these contexts, states tend to prioritize conservative fiscal management and established policy areas over emerging forms of... See more