SB37: SB37 "AI Accountability Act"; enact

Georgia currently has no statewide requirement for government agencies to explain how they use artificial intelligence (AI) systems. Senate Bill 37, called the "AI Accountability Act," would change that by adding a new section to Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 50-1-14) requiring every governmental entity, including state agencies, counties, cities, and school systems, to publish a public AI usage plan by December 31, 2026, and keep it updated. The plan must cover goals for AI use, bias and fairness safeguards, data privacy, oversight roles, staff training, and how the entity will respond to AI malfunctions or breaches. The bill also creates the Georgia Board for Artificial Intelligence, a 12 member panel appointed by the Governor, the Senate President, and the House Speaker. The board will publish model AI usage plans for governments to follow and report recommendations to state leaders each year starting January 1, 2026. It is housed administratively within the Georgia Technology Authority, and members serve without pay but can be reimbursed for expenses.

• Requires every Georgia governmental entity, including state agencies, counties, cities, and school systems, to publish a public AI usage plan by December 31, 2026.
• Specifies nine required elements for each plan, including bias safeguards, data privacy measures, human oversight, staff training, and incident response protocols.
• Creates the 12 member Georgia Board for Artificial Intelligence, with four members each appointed by the Governor, the Senate President, and the House Speaker.
• Directs the new board to publish model AI usage plans and submit an annual report of recommendations to the Governor and legislative leaders starting January 1, 2026.
• Places the board administratively under the Georgia Technology Authority and sets board member terms, staggered at first, at four years thereafter.
• Provides that board members serve without pay but may receive expense reimbursement, funded through the Georgia Technology Authority's budget.

State agencies, counties, municipalities, school systems, and other political subdivisions of Georgia, all of which must publish AI usage plans; the Governor, Senate President, and House Speaker, who appoint board members; and the Georgia Technology Authority, which administers the new board.

Georgians would gain public access to written explanations of how their state and local governments use AI, covering fairness, privacy, and oversight safeguards. Government bodies would face a new compliance deadline and reporting duties, while a new state board would shape shared AI guidance across agencies.

• Section 1 gives the bill its short title, the 'AI Accountability Act.'
• Section 3 adds Code Section 50-1-14, defining 'artificial intelligence system' and 'governmental entity' and requiring public AI usage plans by December 31, 2026.
• Section 3 lists nine required components of each plan, including bias mitigation, data privacy, human oversight, training, and incident reporting procedures.
• Section 4 creates the Georgia Board for Artificial Intelligence under Code Section 50-12-151, with 12 members appointed in equal groups by the Governor, Senate President, and House Speaker.
• Section 4 sets staggered initial terms (one, two, and three years) for members appointed in 2025, with four-year terms afterward.
• Section 4 requires the board to submit model AI usage plans and recommendations annually starting January 1, 2026, published by the Georgia Technology Authority.
• Section 4 states board members receive no compensation but can claim expense reimbursement funded through the Georgia Technology Authority.
• Section 5 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2025-01-28Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
2. 2025-01-27Senate Hopper (Senate)

• John Albers (R, SD-056)Primary sponsor
• Shawn Still (R, SD-048)
• Jason Esteves (D, SD-035)
• Max Burns (R, SD-023)
• Chuck Payne (R, SD-054)
• Randy Robertson (R, SD-029)
• Larry Walker (R, SD-020)

• artificial intelligence
• government transparency
• state government oversight
• technology policy
• public sector accountability