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Legislative committee advances memorial to create interim AI and data-privacy study group
Summary
A House memorial asking the Legislative Council to form a special interim committee to study artificial intelligence and data privacy advanced out of committee on a 9-0 vote after supporters from industry and health and education groups urged a stakeholder-driven approach.
Representative Armstrong introduced HGM 9, a joint memorial asking the Legislative Council to create a special interim legislative committee to hold hearings, gather stakeholder testimony and develop recommendations on artificial intelligence development, deployment, regulation and comprehensive data-privacy protections for New Mexicans.
The measure’s supporters told the committee the interim process is the right way to balance growth and consumer protection. Dan Najjar, representing Intel Corporation, T-Mobile, Apple, Netflix and Loveless, said stakeholders need time to study AI and “do some regulation soon. We think it’s better to do it right.”
Jason Weeks, a registered lobbyist, listed multiple business clients and told the panel the goal is “to promote development of AI, but do it in a reasonable and responsible way.” Carrie Robin Brunder of the New Mexico Medical Society and representatives of public charter schools said AI affects health care and education decisions and that a broad stakeholder process could produce a more effective bill next year.
Several industry and trade groups—among them the Entertainment Software Association, Comcast, and the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies—also registered support, saying a summer study or interim committee would let New Mexico align with other states and national or global standards while avoiding premature or disruptive regulation.
There were no speakers in opposition. The committee voted to give the memorial a do-pass recommendation. The clerk recorded a final tally of nine yes votes and zero no votes.
The memorial itself does not create binding law. Its stated purpose is to request that Legislative Council authorize a special interim committee to study and report back with recommended statutory changes.
Supporters asked for broad participation from industry, health care and education stakeholders so lawmakers have time to study technical, economic and privacy issues before drafting statutory language for the next session.
Policy watchers said the next step is for the Legislative Council to decide whether to authorize the interim committee and scope its charge; HGM 9 would only prompt that process.
