LEGISLATURE 2025-26: Future of AI bills uncertain

Luisa Loi reports on comments by State Representative Clyde Shavers (D-Clinton) for the Whidbey News-Times. Read the whole story.

A second attempt to pass laws that would regulate artificial intelligence has stalled at the Washington Legislature.

State Rep. Clyde Shavers, a Democrat from Clinton, said the two bills he sponsored will not make it to the finish line though they will be automatically introduced at next year’s session. As of March 25, they have only been introduced at the House.

They Said It

House Bill 1168 seeks to increase transparency in artificial intelligence (or AI), requiring disclosure of what information or material — personal, copyrighted or more — is being used to generate content, Shavers said.

House Bill 1170, on the other hand, would mandate AI to inform users when content is developed or modified by AI. Shavers explained this is particularly important in an era where it’s becoming harder to tell what is real from what isn’t.

Shavers said passing bills addressing AI has been a challenge because this is a new technology and many are not aware or fully aware of the ways it can be harmful. The technology is also developing at a fast rate, so creating safeguards requires a collaborative effort at the state and federal level.

Nevertheless, he said he looks forward to continuing this effort as AI evolves.