SB455: SB455 Georgia Artificial Intelligence Commission; establishment

Georgia currently has no dedicated body overseeing how state government uses artificial intelligence. This bill would create the Georgia Artificial Intelligence Commission inside Chapter 12 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated. The commission would recommend legislative and executive actions on AI, develop statewide guidelines for using AI systems, encourage agencies to adopt AI where useful, inventory AI systems already in use, and flag high risk uses of the technology. The commission would be administratively housed within the Georgia Technology Authority. It would have 16 members, including several state officials or their designees, four legislators from both chambers and parties, two higher education AI experts, and two private-sector AI experts, all appointed by the Governor by January 1, 2027. Members serve three-year terms without pay, though they get expense reimbursement. The commission must begin operating by January 1, 2027, and file an annual report to top state leaders starting December 31, 2027.

• Creates the Georgia Artificial Intelligence Commission as a new body under Chapter 12 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated (O.C.G.A. § 50-12-150).
• Assigns the commission to the Georgia Technology Authority for administrative support only, not policy control.
• Directs the commission to recommend AI-related legislation, develop statewide AI guidelines, inventory state agencies' AI use, and identify high-risk AI applications.
• Sets the commission's membership at 16 people, mixing state officials, legislators, academics, and private industry representatives, appointed by the Governor by January 1, 2027.
• Requires the commission to submit an annual report on its activities and goals to the Governor and legislative leaders starting December 31, 2027.
• Provides that members serve unpaid three-year terms with expense reimbursement, and can be removed after four consecutive unexcused absences.

State agency leaders such as the Attorney General, State School Superintendent, and Commissioners of Labor, Agriculture, and Public Health, along with legislators, university AI researchers, and private AI companies who would serve on the commission. State agencies generally would be affected by any resulting guidelines on AI use.

If enacted, Georgia would gain an official body studying how state agencies use artificial intelligence, giving lawmakers a formal channel for AI-related recommendations and giving agencies guidance on adopting AI tools. Georgians would not see immediate rule changes, since the commission mainly researches and advises rather than regulates directly.

• Section 1 adds new Article 9 to Chapter 12 of Title 50, codified as O.C.G.A. § 50-12-150, defining 'artificial intelligence system' broadly to cover machine systems emulating human cognitive processes.
• Subsection (b) lists six commission responsibilities, including recommending legislation, setting statewide AI guidelines, encouraging agency AI adoption, ensuring safe AI use, inventorying AI systems, and identifying high-risk areas.
• Subsection (c) assigns the commission to the Georgia Technology Authority for administrative purposes only, under O.C.G.A. § 50-4-3.
• Subsection (d) sets 16 appointed members, including eight state officials or designees, four legislators, two higher education AI experts, and two private industry AI experts, appointed by the Governor by January 1, 2027.
• Subsection (e) sets three-year terms, quorum rules requiring a majority, and removal after four consecutive unexcused absences.
• Subsection (f) specifies members serve without pay but receive expense reimbursement under existing state allowance provisions (O.C.G.A. §§ 28-1-8 and 45-7-21).
• Subsection (j) requires an annual report to the Governor, the Senate President, and the House Speaker by December 31, 2027, and each year after.
• Subsection (k) requires the commission to begin operating no later than January 1, 2027.

1. 2026-02-04Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
2. 2026-02-03Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Nikki Merritt (D, SD-009)Primary sponsor
• Harold Jones (D, SD-022)
• Sonya Halpern (D, SD-039)
• Jaha Howard (D, SD-035)
• Randal Mangham (D, SD-055)
• Kenya Wicks (D, SD-034)
• Freddie Sims (D, SD-012)
• Tonya Anderson (D, SD-043)
• Elena Parent (D, SD-044)
• Nabilah Islam Parkes (D, SD-007)
• RaShaun Kemp (D, SD-038)
• Gail Davenport (D, SD-017)
• Donzella James (D, SD-028)

• artificial intelligence policy
• state government technology
• Georgia Technology Authority
• AI regulation
• state boards and commissions