Committee advances bill to treat AI communications like privileged professional communications

House Bill 24‑10 proposes that a person's communications with artificial intelligence be treated as privileged in the same way as communications with human professionals (for example, attorney‑client or physician‑patient privilege). Representative Collin, sponsor of the measure, told the committee the bill "ports" AI interactions into the common‑law privilege framework so courts can develop doctrine and protect privacy as technology evolves.

Collin framed the proposal as a measured approach to allow judges and courts to build precedent rather than attempting to impose highly detailed statutory rules in a fast‑moving technical field. He stressed the bill is intended to protect sensitive conversations — legal, medical and mental‑health discussions — that users now increasingly have with AI tools.

Public testimony included Justin Yintas, who works in criminal investigations and with the Arizona Attorney School of Criminal Justice. Yintas told the committee that current investigative practices and administrative subpoena use create uncertainty around privacy and that extending privilege to AI communications would help guard constitutional rights and slow potential overreach.

Committee members responded positively to the concept of courts shaping the law and discussed the need to monitor how privilege claims will be litigated. The committee returned HB 24‑10 with a due‑pass recommendation (6 ayes, 0 nay, 1 present noted), and sponsors said they will continue discussions with stakeholders and the judiciary.