Kentucky lawmakers passed Senate Bill 4 this year, "establishing and implementing policy standards" for the use of AI in state government. And while officials are putting the finishing touches on those standards, the major spending bill in the US Senate right now contains provisions that could put a moratorium on state AI legislation, or withhold funds if states overstep their bounds.
"It is unknown at this stage the potential impacts of the federal regulations that are still in motion," Jim Barnhart, CIO of the Commonwealth Office of Technology, says. "Therefore, it is premature to try to determine any impacts at this juncture. We will certainly be watching these events closely, and we'll be prepared to be agile."
Meanwhile, Kate Shanks with the Kentucky Chamber said her group, representing business interests, hopes to see a federal framework for AI rather than a patchwork of state laws, which she said results in increased costs and inefficiencies for businesses.
Kentucky's AI task force is back in session during the summer interim, as lawmakers hope to tackle issues surrounding data centers, energy use, and education.