Welch, House Democrats Deliver Nation-Leading AI Accountability Law
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Artificial intelligence models will be subject to the country’s strongest transparency and accountability guidelines, thanks to a new law passed by Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch and House Democrats.
“No matter our views on AI, we can all acknowledge that it is poised to be the most consequential technology of our time. It will have a profound impact on our work, on our health, on our democracy, and more. The decisions we make today will decide whether this tool is used for good or for ill,” Welch said. “The work of the House Democrats’ AI Working Group and our colleagues is putting Illinois at the forefront of smart AI regulation by creating an environment where technological advancement is paired with real transparency and accountability. The safeguards we’re creating around so-called “frontier models” ensures Illinois will not be a 21st century Wild West.”
Welch and members of his AI Working Group joined Governor JB Pritzker recently to sign Senate Bill 315 into law. This bill creates the Artificial Intelligence Safety Measures Act which requires large AI companies to implement comprehensive frameworks for transparency and harm reduction based on independent third-party reports, including:
Safety incident reporting requirements
Disclosure guidelines
Whistleblower protections
Civil penalties for act violations
The range of catastrophic harms that this legislation is meant to address include AI-assisted violent crimes, weapons development, evasions of human control, or cyberattacks that could lead to the death or serious injury of more than 50 people or greater than $1 billion in property damage.
“The pace of AI development and the capabilities of frontier models are accelerating, and the General Assembly has an obligation to ensure that Illinois residents are protected from catastrophic outcomes,” said Rep. Daniel Didech, who introduced the legislation in the House. “This legislation puts enforceable guardrails in place so Big Tech companies must prioritize safety, be transparent about the risks tied to their systems and take responsibility for preventing serious harm, especially when it comes to protecting children.”
