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Committee advances bill to add nonvoting high‑school member to state AI commission
Summary
The Delaware House Technology Committee voted to release House Bill 16, which would allow the chair of the state's Artificial Intelligence Commission to appoint a nonvoting high‑school student to the 23‑member panel; the bill passed out of committee by roll call vote.
Representative Griffith presented House Bill 16 to the Delaware House Technology Committee, proposing an amendment to the state's Artificial Intelligence Commission to allow the commission chair to appoint one nonvoting high‑school student to the panel.
The bill would add a nonvoting high‑school member to the 23‑person commission created previously by House Bill 33, with the student appointment intended to bring youth perspective into policy conversations about artificial intelligence. Representative Griffith said the student seat would be nonvoting to avoid contract‑signing issues for minors and to mirror how other commissions include youth members.
Aiden Gamble, a tenth grader at Brandywine High School who appeared in the committee room with his father, told the committee he is “interested in artificial intelligence, programming, and game development” and said he wants to help ensure AI development and government use of AI “allows for curious students and curious people to continue to contribute to the field.” Representative Griffith said the chair would appoint a high‑school student and described the change as simple in language but consequential in effect.
Committee members asked about the term and continuity of service for a student appointee. A member clarified the bill contemplates an annual appointment and noted that a tenth grader could continue serving through twelfth grade if they remained eligible; committee discussion did not set a single fixed term length but indicated the intent that service be limited to the period the appointee is in high school.
There was no public testimony recorded on the bill during the committee's public comment period. A motion to release HB 16 from committee was moved by Representative Liz Santin and seconded by Representative Gorman. The committee conducted a roll call vote: Representative Romer, yes; Representative Melissa Anton, yes; Representative Gorman, yes; Representative Griffith, yes; Representative Johnson, yes; Representative Smith, absent; Representative Jones Keltner, yes; Representative Morris, yes; Representative Vandewijn, absent. The motion carried and the bill was released from committee.
If the bill secures the required signatures for release from committee, it will be posted on the legislative website and announced on the House floor as part of the chamber's process for advancing legislation.
