By JIM TALAMONTI
Illinois Radio Network
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (IRN) – State legislators have proposed new measures to regulate the use of artificial intelligence.
State Rep. Bob Morgan, D-Deerfield, introduced House Bill 0035 earlier this month. The legislation provides for the creation of the Artificial Intelligence Systems Use in Health Insurance Act, which would prohibit insurance companies from using AI alone to deny, reduce or terminate coverage plans.
State Sen. Laura Fine, D-Glenview, introduced the companion Senate bill last Friday.
State Sen. Sally Turner, R-Beason, offered a comment on the newly-filed SB1425.
“As this legislation was just filed last Friday, my staff and I are still in the process of reviewing the bill’s specific language and its potential effect. I look forward to further discussions on this important issue once our review is complete and if the bill is assigned to a Senate committee hearing,” Turner told The Center Square.
State Rep. Amy “Murri” Briel, D-Ottawa, offered a separate proposal for government healthcare facilities.
“My AI legislation involves making sure that the state and its contractors, like those county nursing homes, etcetera, don’t use any artificial intelligence that determines any human’s fate without human oversight,” Briel told The Center Square.
Briel also expressed concerns about the use of AI in educational systems. The first-year lawmaker said, although she’s not opposed to artificial intelligence or technology, school districts in New York implemented AI software which flagged kids who chatted on their computers.
“Three different children in two districts in New York’s homes were swatted for no real threat because the AI made that decision to alert authorities without human oversight,” Briel said.
State Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid, D-Bridgeview, co-chaired the Illinois Generative AI and Natural Language Processing Task Force with state Rep. Robert Peters, D-Chicago. Rashid announced the group’s “sobering” findings last week.
“We’re witnessing profound changes, many of which are exacerbating existing inequities, from algorithmic discrimination that disproportionately affects marginalized communities to the displacement of workers as automation takes over jobs. Real people are being hurt,” Rashid said.
Rashid suggested crackdowns on discrimination and political deepfakes as well as union-supported protections for workers from what he called, “the excesses of AI.”
The task force’s report calls for measures to support workers, safeguard civil rights, protect democracy, enhance privacy and consumer rights, and foster sustainable AI development.
