Regulatory Guide
EU AI Act Compliance Guide for SMBs
Last updated: February 23, 2026
The EU AI Act is no longer a future concern. For many companies, the key date is August 2, 2026. If your team uses AI in customer operations, internal decision support, or client-facing workflows, you need a practical governance baseline now.
What SMBs should do first
- Inventory which AI tools employees are actually using.
- Publish an AI usage policy with clear data-handling boundaries.
- Collect employee attestation to prove policy acknowledgement.
- Maintain evidence-ready reporting for clients, insurers, and audits.
Do you fall in scope?
You may be in scope if your business serves EU users, processes EU personal data in AI workflows, or deploys AI capabilities that affect people in regulated contexts. Treat this as governance and legal triage: build control evidence now, then refine legal interpretation with counsel.
U.S. policy updates to watch
- Texas (HB 149 / TRAIGA): Effective January 1, 2026, including consumer disclosure and prohibited-practice provisions.
- Colorado (SB24-205): Effective date moved to June 30, 2026 via SB25B-004.
- Colorado (HB25B-1009): Additional delay/exemption proposal was postponed indefinitely in 2025.
Official sources and law text
- European Commission: EU AI Act overview and timeline
- EUR-Lex: Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 official text
- Texas Legislature: HB 149 enrolled text
- Colorado General Assembly: SB24-205
- Colorado General Assembly: SB25B-004 amendment updates
Snapshot current as of February 23, 2026. Confirm with counsel before legal reliance.
Related guides
View allAI Policy Checklist
A practical path from template policy to enforceable team behavior.
Read guideShadow AI Risk Guide
Top risk categories and concrete controls to reduce exposure quickly.
Read guideStart with a practical baseline
Use the free generator to create your policy draft. After generation, request a launch invite for full platform workflows.