How States Are Using AI for Compliance Enforcement in 2026

State AI compliance enforcement is broadening as more regulators, like those in Montana and Hawaii, employ AI to identify issues in campaign finance reports and conduct investigations, while others remain cautious.
Montana has made significant strides with an AI system that features a dashboard to review filings and a chatbot providing regulatory advice and citations, with plans to expand AI tools for lobbying compliance by 2027.
Citizens and watchdog groups are increasingly using AI to file complaints about campaign finance disclosures, though these AI-generated complaints often cite inaccurate state-specific requirements, leading to additional work for regulators.
States considering AI chatbots for regulatory advice face the challenge of establishing “closed systems” that only reference their own laws instead of incorporating information from other jurisdictions or federal regulations.
The increasing use of AI in campaign finance compliance means that filers need to ensure their reporting is precise to avoid AI-flagged errors resulting in formal enforcement actions, reputational damage, and legal costs, even if complaints turn out to be unfounded.

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