Stanford researchers use AI to scan 500 million words of state law for red tape

StanfordHAI · x · 2026-07-28

Stanford HAI and Stanford Law’s RegLab say Maryland could need up to 14 weeks just to read all required government reports, which is longer than the state’s 13-week legislative session.

Their response is an AI tool that scans the clutter in state statutes: researchers analyzed 500 million words of law across all 50 states to identify outdated reporting requirements and other forms of bureaucratic “policy sludge.”

The project is also being used with New York, California, and Maryland to help governments trim obsolete provisions, reduce burden on civil servants, and speed up public administration.

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