State legislatures filed an unprecedented volume of bills targeting artificial intelligence in education during the 2025 session—more than 50 measures across 21 states—according to an analysis by the Center for Democracy and Technology. The bills span AI literacy, teacher professional development, restrictions on certain classroom uses, and the creation of state task forces. Maddy Dwyer of the CDT quantified the activity and said the diversity of proposals reflects both enthusiasm for AI’s instructional potential and anxiety about harms such as privacy breaches and misuse in mental-health applications. Four bills passed in 2025, including two in Illinois that create guidance and task-force mandates and update cyberbullying definitions to include nonconsensual intimate imagery. K–12 AI policy shifts matter to higher education: they shape teacher-preparation curricula, admissions pipelines, and research collaborations. Universities that train teachers and develop ed‑tech products must now engage with state regulators and district leaders on guardrails and professional training.