Bill Description: House Bill 917 would require all state agencies to use AI to review their regulations and guidance documents.
Rating: -2
Does it create, expand, or enlarge any agency, board, program, function, or activity of government? Conversely, does it eliminate or curtail the size or scope of government?
House Bill 917 would create Chapter 34, Title 67, Idaho Code, the “AI Regulatory Review Act”.
The bill would require all state agencies to “cause their regulations and guidance documents to be reviewed by an AI system when conducting their periodic review pursuant to section 67-5292, Idaho Code.”
The AI system would analyze the “mandates provided for by the regulation or guidance document,” the “language of the regulation and guidance document to determine whether the text uses plain language,” the “cost of complying with the regulation or guidance document,” and the “economic impact of its proposed modifications to the agency's regulation or guidance document.”
It would also provide “recommendations for proposed modifications based on its analysis; a cost-benefit analysis of the proposed modifications; and an estimate of the potential savings from accepting a proposed modification.”
The bill would still require that “all AI-generated analyses and recommendations shall be reviewed and approved by qualified agency personnel. No agency regulation or guidance document shall be amended or repealed based solely on AI analysis without human review and approval conducted by qualified agency personnel.”
While these AI reviews could provide some useful information that might be used to reduce regulations, there is also no inherent reason why state agencies need to utilize AI for these efforts. Especially given that a full human review would still be required.
(-1)
Does it increase government spending (for objectionable purposes) or debt? Conversely, does it decrease government spending or debt?
The bill would require that “within six (6) months of the effective date of this chapter, each agency shall: acquire or develop AI systems capable of performing the analyses required by this chapter; complete an AI-assisted comprehensive review of all regulations and guidance documents under its authority; complete its human review required by this chapter; and initiate rulemaking procedures pursuant to this chapter and chapter 52, title 67, Idaho Code.”
The bill’s fiscal note says the bill would have no fiscal impact, but acquiring commercial AI software isn’t free, and utilizing AI effectively requires either training or outsourcing. Likewise, the human review processes required would involve considerable staff time.
Implementing these processes carries a cost that needs to be acknowledged.
(-1)
