Joint committee advances bill to establish Oregon commission on artificial intelligence

The Joint Legislative Committee on Information Management and Technology on June 11 adopted an amendment and voted to send House Bill 3592, which would establish a state commission on artificial intelligence, to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means without recommendation.

The bill, introduced in its original form as the Oregon Commission on Artificial Intelligence, would create a statewide body to monitor use of artificial intelligence technologies, identify long‑term policy implications, and file an annual report to the Legislative Assembly that "may include recommendations for legislation, regulations, or policies." The adopted dash‑5 amendment renames the body the Senator Aaron Woods Commission on Artificial Intelligence, places it within the Oregon Department of Justice and makes several structural changes, including the addition of one member to bring the total to 18 and shifting hiring authority for a chief artificial intelligence officer to the Attorney General.

Committee members said the measure is intended both to honor the late Senator Aaron Woods and to give Oregon a…