House committee adds neurotechnology study language to AI bill

The committee considered a short amendment to H814 — a bill on the responsible and ethical use of artificial intelligence in health care, human services and education — that would ask the AI Advisory Council to include proposed definitions for neurotechnology and to recommend statutory changes to protect neurological rights.

Ben Carvey of the Office of Legislative Counsel told the committee the amendment would change the bill's language so the council "submit a written report to the general assembly" that recommends statutory changes "including protections for neurological rights, protections related to neurotechnologies and proposed definitions for relevant terminology." Counsel said the change aims to preserve rights now while letting the advisory council propose technical definitions after additional study.

Members who had questioned AI and neurotechnology definitions during floor debate last week supported folding the definitional work into the council's report rather than rushing a statutory definition on the floor. The chair framed the compromise as: keep protections in place immediately and ask the AI Advisory Council to return recommended definitions by the council's January 15 report to the Legislature.

The committee did not record a formal committee vote on that specific amendment during the meeting; sponsors plan to present the amendment on the House floor at third reading.

The committee will take H814 to the House floor later today for third reading, where sponsors can present the amendment and members of the full body will have the opportunity to debate and vote.