Government Modernization and Technology

OKLAHOMA CITY – The House Government Modernization and Technology Committee on Monday unanimously passed two bills intended to safeguard Oklahomans when artificial intelligence (AI) is used. Rep. Cody Maynard, R-Durant, is the chairman of the committee and the author of  House Bill 3545 and House Bill 3546 . The measures seek to ensure state agencies use AI responsibly with human oversight and clarify that artificial intelligence systems are not persons and cannot hold legal rights. "These common-sense protections seek to set responsible standards for the use of artificial intelligence and ensure that rights remain with people and not inanimate, non-human systems," Maynard said. "We welcome the use of emerging technologies, but only within a prudent framework. While some of this may seem like science fiction, the concerns are all too real in our current environment, and the best time to set guidelines is now." Maynard said House Bill 3545 would establish responsible standards for state agency use of AI that would require human oversight for any high-risk decisions. The measure also would require transparency whenever AI content is used, including annual reporting so that everyone knows what AI is being used for in the state. House Bill 3546 would make it clear that AI systems and other non-human inanimate objects will not be granted personhood in Oklahoma. "This ensures that rights remain with people and prevents artificial intelligence from being used to claim legal standing or avoid accountability under our laws," Maynard said. He said the measure reinforces a foundational principle reflected in the Declaration of Independence: that our rights do not come from government but are endowed by our Creator and recognized by our Constitution. "Machines are created by man, and they must never be elevated to the status of the people they were designed to serve," Maynard said. Both bills received unanimous do pass recommendations and now are eligible to be considered by the Committee on Commerce and Economic Development Oversight. House bills must pass in policy and oversight committees before being eligible for a vote by the full membership of the House. Maynard has an additional bill dealing with AI that has been referred to the Civil Judiciary Committee. House Bill 3544 would protect minors from AI systems designed to simulate human-like relationships. It would prohibit the deployment of social AI companions and human-like AI chatbots to minors and would require reasonable age certification measures, with a narrow exception for certain therapeutic tools under strict professional oversight. Maynard said the bill reflects growing national concern, including widely reported lawsuits alleging that some AI-companion platforms foster emotional dependency in minors and, in tragic cases, encourage self-harm.

Legislation aimed at modernizing data retention practices across Oklahoma has been signed into law by Gov. Kevin Stitt.  House Bill 3643, authored by Rep. Jeff Boatman, R-Tulsa, increases government efficiency by clarifying that records not regulated by the Records Management Act may be destroyed without the approval of the State Records Administrator.  "The signing of House Bill 3643 reaffirms Oklahoma's commitment to embracing innovation in government operations," Boatman said. "These changes are aligned with the best practices of today, ensuring that Oklahoma remains at the forefront of information management. I appreciate the support of the Governor and my colleagues in the Legislature as we work together to make Oklahoma government as efficient as possible."  “As Governor, I want to support any legislation that modernizes government and saves taxpayer dollars, which is why I proudly signed HB 3643,” Stitt said. “I’m grateful to Representative Boatman and Senator Jech for sending this bill to my desk.”  HB3643 was carried in the Senate by Sen. Darcy Jech, R-Kingfisher.  “These improvements to our state recordkeeping systems will maximize efficiency and increase security by prioritizing essential records and ensuring those are stored properly," Jech said. "In addition, this legislation will eliminate the need to store non-essential files as it’s not practical or cost-effective. I appreciate my legislative colleagues for their support of this measure, as well as the governor for signing this into law, marking a significant step towards modernizing our government operations and better serving the needs of Oklahomans." Additionally, the bill also addresses the storage location of certain documents. HB3643 takes effect Nov. 1.

The Oklahoma House Government Modernization and Technology Committee passed numerous artificial intelligence (AI) regulation bills on Tuesday.  House Bill 3453, authored by Rep. Jeff Boatman, R-Tulsa, would establish the Oklahoma Artificial Intelligence Bill of Rights, which defines "artificial intelligence" and "real person." The bill also outlines eight ways Oklahomans are entitled to information about the use of AI, such as the right to know when they're interacting with an AI engine rather than a real person and the right to opt out of their data being used in an AI model.  "In the age of AI, transparency is paramount," said Boatman, who chairs the committee. "The Oklahoma Artificial Intelligence Bill of Rights empowers Oklahomans and ensures citizens have the right to understand AI interactions and protect their privacy and data."  House Bill 3577, authored by Rep. Daniel Pae, R-Lawton, establishes the Artificial Intelligence Utilization Review Act. The measure would require healthcare insurance companies to disclose any use of artificial intelligence-based algorithms in their utilization review process to healthcare providers, covered persons and the general public. The disclosure must be made on the insurer's website, and the company is required to submit the algorithms and training data sets to the Oklahoma Insurance Department. Additionally, specialists participating in utilization reviews using AI algorithms must document individual clinical records before making denial decisions.  "AI is still new and it's no doubt still flawed to some degree," Pae said. "By mandating disclosure and documentation, we can better safeguard against potential biases within AI systems in healthcare decisions."  In October, Pae and Rep. Arturo Alonso-Sandoval, D-Oklahoma City, led an interim study on the ethical, legal and societal implications of AI implementation, including privacy, bias and algorithmic transparency.  During Tuesday's meeting, Alonso-Sandoval passed legislation prohibiting the use of deepfakes during elections. House Bill 3825 prohibits the dissemination of deceptive deepfake media within 90 days of an election, except when a clear disclosure is provided. The measure provides definitions of synthetic media and deceptive and fraudulent deepfake. Violators may face penalties, but exceptions exist for news broadcasts, publications and satire. Alonso-Sandoval also passed House Bill 3828, which requires the Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES) and the Administrative Office of the Courts to inventory all systems that use AI by Dec. 31, 2024 and each following year. State agencies that do not use OMES must inventory their own systems and post the inventory list on their website. The bill also would require assessments of agencies' AI systems to ensure the systems do not discriminate. "Artificial Intelligence has become an integral part of our day-to-day lives, touching everything from our personal routines to our statewide systems," Alonso-Sandoval said. "Recognizing the advantages and acknowledging the challenges that AI presents, I remain committed to bipartisan collaboration to position Oklahoma as a leader in this field. Our state has made great strides in integrating AI responsibly, always with the welfare of our citizens as the guiding principle. HB3828 and HB3825 reflect our dedication to transparency in AI adoption, granting Oklahomans the clear right to know when they are interacting with AI-driven platforms or viewing AI-generated content while also ensuring they are properly vetted for potential bias and discrimination." All four bills passed the committee unanimously and are now available to be considered on the House floor. Earlier this month, the House Judiciary – Criminal Committee approved House Bill 3073 by Rep. Neil Hays, R-Checotah, which criminalizes publishing or distributing digitized representations of another individual's name, image, voice or likeness without their written consent and with the intent to harm. HB3073 is also eligible to be heard on the House floor.