SB 37: "AI Accountability Act"; enact

Right now Georgia has no statewide rule requiring government agencies to explain how they use artificial intelligence (AI) systems. Senate Bill 37, called the AI Accountability Act, would change that. It adds a new section to Georgia law requiring every governmental entity, including state agencies, counties, cities, and school systems, to publish and maintain a public AI usage plan by December 31, 2026. That plan must cover goals for AI use, steps to avoid bias, data privacy protections, oversight roles, legal compliance, employee training, and incident response procedures. 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 would publish model AI usage plans for other entities to follow and submit an annual report of recommendations starting January 1, 2026. The board is housed administratively within the Georgia Technology Authority, and members serve without pay except for expense reimbursement.

• Requires all Georgia governmental entities, including state agencies, counties, cities, and school systems, to publish a public AI usage plan by December 31, 2026.
• Specifies nine required components of each plan, including bias prevention steps, data privacy measures, human oversight roles, and incident response protocols.
• Creates the Georgia Board for Artificial Intelligence, made up of 12 members appointed evenly by the Governor, the Senate President, and the House Speaker.
• Requires the new board to publish model AI usage plans and submit an annual report with recommendations to top state leaders starting January 1, 2026.
• Assigns the board administratively to the Georgia Technology Authority and sets staggered board member terms of one to four years.
• Provides that board members serve without pay but can be reimbursed for expenses, funded through existing agency budgets and Georgia Technology Authority funds.

State agencies, counties, municipalities, school systems, and other political subdivisions of Georgia, all of which must create and publish AI usage plans. Also affects 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 information about how their state and local governments use AI systems, including safeguards against bias and data misuse. Government entities would face a new compliance deadline and administrative workload, while a new state board shapes standardized guidance for responsible AI use.

• Section 1 names the bill the 'AI Accountability Act.'
• Section 2 lays out legislative findings on AI's growth and the need for state policies governing its use by agencies.
• 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 with nine specific required elements.
• Section 4 adds Article 9 to Chapter 12 of Title 50, creating the 12-member Georgia Board for Artificial Intelligence with four-year staggered terms and a chairperson appointed by the Governor.
• Section 4 also requires the board to publish model AI usage plans and submit an annual report of recommendations to the Governor, Senate President, and House Speaker beginning January 1, 2026.
• Section 4 sets board member compensation rules: no pay, but reimbursement for expenses under existing state reimbursement rates, funded through home agency budgets or 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
• state government transparency
• technology policy
• government accountability
• data privacy