House committee advances AI, data-privacy, port and land-authority bills; multiple measures pass unanimously

The Utah House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee met Feb. 25 and voted to advance a package of bills addressing artificial intelligence, government data privacy, inland-port authority rules, state land authority governance and an innovation fund structure.

The most contested discussion focused on HB 452, "Artificial Intelligence Amendments," which the sponsor and state officials said creates an AI learning lab focused on mental health, strengthens consumer protections and outlines a pathway for app developers to deploy tools while documenting adherence to safety practices.

Supporters said the bill aims to protect sensitive user data and encourage responsible innovation. "Utah was actually the first state in the nation to pass anything around AI," said Representative Moss, the bill sponsor, adding the state's approach is to pair innovation with targeted guardrails. Zach Boyd, director of the AI Learning Lab, told the committee the bill requires strengthened data protections, limits on unethical targeted advertising and that AI-driven apps identify themselves as AI.

The committee also considered HB 444, which makes follow-up changes to the Government Data Privacy Act adopted last year. Chris Bramwell, chief privacy officer and director of the Office of Data Privacy, said the bill consolidates conflicting code sections, repeals an earlier Government Internet Information Privacy Act and re-centers privacy rules in a single chapter to make training and compliance clearer for state and local entities. Nora Kurzava, state privacy officer in the auditor's office, testified she supports the bill because it clarifies oversight roles and moves privacy audit authority to the state auditor for independent review.

Senator Stevenson presented first substitute SB 239 to amend Inland Port Authority law. Changes described by proponents include letting the port designate project areas for 25–40 years, allowing protection of certain business records during negotiations, expanding the reach of tax-differential tools to adjacent properties in limited cases, and clarifying board appointment authority. Senator Stevenson and Ben Hart, executive director of the Utah Inland Port Authority, said the changes will allow the authority to coordinate infrastructure projects and continue some grantmaking (Hart noted an existing wetlands-preservation grant to DNR). Multiple public commenters expressed…