New York mandates AI developer registration and 72-hour safety reporting

New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced on September 21, 2026, that major AI developers must begin registering with the state in November and prepare for full compliance with the Responsible AI Safety and Education (RAISE) Act, which takes effect January 1, 2027. The state will establish the Office of Digital Innovation, Governance, Integrity and Trust (DIGIT) within the Department of Financial Services to oversee compliance and enforcement.

Under the RAISE Act, frontier AI developers are required to create publicly available safety frameworks, report critical safety incidents to the state within 72 hours, and submit quarterly assessments of catastrophic risks—defined as events causing death or serious injury to 50 or more people or at least $1 billion in damages. Beginning in 2027, developers must also provide disclosure statements every other year. Developers will pay an assessment fee to fund DIGIT's supervisory work, similar to fees charged to banks operating in New York. The state attorney general's office will lead enforcement.

Marc Gilman, an attorney with experience in AI security and compliance, was appointed as deputy director of DIGIT—the first major hire for the office. Gilman previously served as general counsel and vice president of compliance at Theta Lake, an AI security company, and is an adjunct professor of law at Fordham University. The state allocated $10.4 million in Hochul's budget for RAISE implementation, covering IT systems and initial staff.

Governor Hochul indicated that DIGIT may explore additional measures, including potential "kill switch" mechanisms, to address catastrophic AI risks—an approach echoed by California Governor Gavin Newsom. Hochul stated she is exploring further steps to strengthen New York's AI safety laws in the coming months. The governor positioned New York's actions as a contrast to the federal government, noting that the Trump administration has not implemented new AI safety regulations despite industry concerns.