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Sen. Cabaldon’s SB 1159 to let agencies disregard AI-generated input advances from Senate Judiciary subcommittee
Summary
SB 1159, authored by Sen. Cabaldon, clarifies that government agencies need not treat AI- or bot-generated public comments as though they were from human participants. Supporters warned AI floods have buried real community voices; members pressed the author on detection and legal safeguards. The measure moved on the consent calendar.
Sen. Cabaldon introduced SB 1159 to the Senate Judiciary subcommittee as a bill to protect local governments and genuine constituents from being overwhelmed by automated or AI-generated public engagement.
The bill’s author said SB 1159 ‘‘makes clear that government agencies are not required to treat engagement by a bot or AI… as though it were a human being.’’ He framed the measure as a response to mass-generation of comments that can drown out authentic participation and strain small local governments.
Why it matters: Proponents told the committee the proliferation of AI-generated comments has already affected rule-making and planning processes at state and regional agencies, and that small jurisdictions lack the staff to filter inauthentic mass submissions. Gabriela Fazio, senior policy strategist with…
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