Position: Bridge the Gaps between AI Development and Regulation

While AI models advance at unprecedented rates, AI safety legislation in the United States remains largely stalled or unrealized. We observe that AI policy activity is increasing globally, yet binding enactments remain limited relative to the pace of technical capability releases. We argue for the need to bridge this gap between AI development and its regulation. Specifically, we support our position through a technical analysis of all U.S. AI-related bills introduced from 2017 to 2025, showing that only 4.23% of U.S. AI bills reach any terminal outcome. We identify that procedural bottlenecks, including committee pigeonholing, multi-sponsor coordination challenges, and expertise asymmetries, are primary correlates of legislative stalling. Our comprehensive analysis of institutional, economic, political, and informational constraints shows factors exacerbating these regulatory delays. To address this multi-faceted gap, we propose policy recommendations grounded in planned adaptation, preemptive enactment, and independent AI oversight. Finally, we highlight the need for coordinated action across policymakers, developers, and industry stakeholders so that AI safety governance keeps pace with technological innovation.