BLEDSOE’S BILL ESTABLISHING AI FRAMEWORK FOR STATE GOVERNMENT AND PROMOTING INNOVATION, ACCOUNTABILITY REACHES FINAL PASSAGE
FRANKFORT, KY (March 13, 2025)—The following is a statement from Sen. Amanda Mays Bledsoe, R-Lexington, and co-chair of the 2024 Artificial Intelligence Task Force, regarding final passage of Senate Bill (SB) 4. The measure establishes an AI framework around public sector use of AI and as it relates to elections.
“I appreciate the partnership of Rep. Josh Bray and the collaboration between the Senate and House as we worked to pass SB 4. This legislation is a critical first step in establishing responsible AI governance for state agencies and elections in Kentucky. AI is evolving exponentially, and while this bill provides an initial framework, we must remain vigilant in refining and adapting our policies to keep pace with technological advancements.
“I continue to urge Congress and the federal government to take a proactive role in setting a comprehensive framework for AI use in the private sector—one that fosters innovation and efficiency while prioritizing privacy, security, and public trust.”
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ABOUT SB 4
Bledsoe’s measure establishes a risk-based framework for using artificial intelligence (AI) in Kentucky’s state government, ensuring transparency, accountability, and safeguards against AI-generated misinformation. The measure requires the Commonwealth Office of Technology (COT) to implement policies governing AI procurement, implementation, and assessment while prioritizing data security, privacy protections, and acceptable use guidelines for high-risk AI systems.
Additionally, SB 4 creates the Artificial Intelligence Governance Committee, which will oversee ethical and responsible AI use, require public disclosure of AI applications, provide employee training, and prioritize personal privacy and data protection.
The bill also includes key election integrity measures, such as requiring disclosure when AI-generated content is used in political messaging and establishing legal remedies for candidates targeted by deceptive AI-generated media.
SB 4 requires each state cabinet to submit a report by December 1 to promote responsible AI innovation, identifying potential AI applications that could improve government services. This is to promote responsible AI innovation.
The House Committee Substitute to SB 4 retains the original provisions while refining the legislation by expanding and clarifying key AI-related definitions, strengthening protections for trade secrets to balance transparency with business interests, and making technical adjustments to assure consistent implementation.
Secretary of State Michael Adams—who has over 20 years of First Amendment legal experience—testified with Bledsoe in a House committee hearing on the bill.
Secretary Adams highlighted several key changes made to the bill to ensure it aligns with First Amendment protections while addressing concerns about AI-generated misinformation in elections. One major revision was the removal of provisions that allowed a judge to order the takedown of political ads, eliminating any risk of prior restraint. Instead, the bill now focuses on requiring disclaimers for AI-generated video or audio content, with no monetary penalties attached. The scope was also narrowed by removing altered images, as determining whether an image has been manipulated could be highly subjective and lead to excessive litigation. Adams emphasized that while this legislation is a step forward, the issue should continue to be revisited in future sessions.
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Sen. Amanda Mays Bledsoe, R-Lexington, represents the 12th Senate District, including Boyle, Mercer, and Woodford Counties and part of Fayette County. She serves as vice chair of both the Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee and the Senate Families and Children Committee. Additionally, Bledsoe is an ex officio member of various budget review subcommittees, including Health and Family Services; Education; Justice; General Government and Economic Development; and Natural Resources and Environmental Protection. She co-chairs the Commission on Race and Access to Opportunity statutory committee and is a member of the Licensing and Occupations Committee, the State and Local Government Committee, and the Tobacco Settlement Agreement Fund Oversight statutory committee. In 2024, she co-chaired the Artificial Intelligence Task Force and served on the 2024-26 Budget Preparation and Submission statutory committee.
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