State Rep. Travis Couture, R-Allyn, has pre-filed bipartisan legislation to create an artificial intelligence (AI) task force at the request of state Attorney General Bob Ferguson.
The bill, House Bill 1934, would create a task force to “assess current uses and trends and make recommendations to the Legislature regarding standards for the use and regulation of generative artificial intelligence systems.”
In a news release, Ferguson said the task force would include industry representatives, civil liberty groups, subject experts and other stakeholders. The bipartisan group of 42 members would convene at least twice a year.
“Washington is on the cutting edge of innovation,” Ferguson said. “It is imperative that we embrace new technology in a thoughtful way. As we celebrate the benefits, we must also ensure we protect against the potential for irresponsible use and unintentional consequences.”
According to Ferguson, four other states have created a similar AI task force or committee, and at least 25 have proposed AI-related legislation.
Cosponsored by Rep. Vandana Slatter, D-Bellevue, and Rep. Mike Volz, R-Spokane, the bill would require the task force to submit an interim report to the governor and the appropriate legislative committees by Dec. 1, 2025, and a final report by June 1, 2027. The legislation defines artificial intelligence as “technologies that enable machines, particularly computer software, to simulate human intelligence.”
In the announcement, Couture cites several potential impacts, both positive and negative, that the technology could have as it advances. In October, a New Jersey high school student was accused of producing AI-generated pornographic images of his classmates.
Meanwhile, the technology has also shown the ability to enhance medical care, weather predictions, protection of the environment and other societal improvements.
"So often policymakers are behind the eight-ball when new technology emerges, and we are forced to be reactionary. My bipartisan bill will help us avoid that as much as possible by creating a task force of the region's experts to help educate the Legislature on AI and make recommendations on future policy," Couture said in a statement. "The goal is to make sure Washington has quality, non-binding recommendations in place to exploit the good AI can do and mitigate the bad."
