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Lawmakers pressing for sector targets, workforce readiness and limited carve‑outs as they consider AI bills
Summary
Committee members praised expert testimony and asked about AI 'hallucinations', chatbots in behavioral health, surveillance pricing, insurance exceptions and workforce impacts, signaling interest in targeted bills and workgroups.
Lawmakers on the Science, Technology & Telecommunications Committee responded to expert testimony by pressing for concrete next steps: targeted sector rules, workforce training, and careful drafting to avoid unintended consequences.
Representative Luhan, who led a line of questioning after the first panel, asked presenters to address AI 'hallucination'—the tendency of generative systems to produce fabricated content—and whether effective policy would need to come from Congress or whether states should proceed. "Is there the bias, the existential, the privacy and and surveillance issues ... Is there the... hallucination of AI?" Luhan asked, adding that she saw a role for state legislation.
Senator Bergman asked specifically about chatbots used in behavioral health and whether regulators should restrict chatbots from acting as therapists; presenters referenced complaints and research by the Consumer Federation of America seeking enforcement in that area. Senator Trujillo expressed concern about insurance exceptions to personalized‑pricing prohibitions and asked for examples of what 'reasonable exceptions' might look like; witnesses replied that exemptions should align with existing state insurance codes and be carefully tailored.
Representative Garrett raised classroom concerns about education technology and urged oversight for vendors selling AI tools to schools. Multiple legislators asked about workforce impacts and whether to pursue omnibus AI bills or narrower, sector‑specific measures; witnesses argued smaller, targeted bills tied to existing authorities often produce clearer, enforceable outcomes.
Next steps: Several lawmakers said they would pursue drafts on topics including surveillance pricing, AI in the workplace, and chatbots posing as therapists. The committee recessed for lunch with clear interest in convening follow‑up stakeholder meetings and possible working groups before formal legislation moves forward.
The hearing recorded no formal motions or votes.
