Technology (Artificial Intelligence)

This Kansas House Resolution expresses strong opposition to any federal laws or policies that would override state authority to regulate artificial intelligence. The measure specifically rejects proposals that would prevent Kansas from creating its own rules for AI use in critical areas such as elections, public safety, employment, and healthcare. While opposing federal preemption, the resolution supports a federal baseline of protections that allows states to maintain their ability to enact stricter regulations tailored to local needs.

SB 467 requires health insurers and utilization review organizations using artificial intelligence (AI) for medical necessity decisions to ensure those tools base determinations on individual patient data (medical history, clinical circumstances) rather than group datasets. Crucially, the bill mandates that *only* licensed physicians or healthcare professionals - never AI systems - can make final decisions about whether medical care is necessary. Insurers must also create and disclose written policies explaining their review processes and ensure AI tools do not deny, delay, or modify care based on medical necessity. This directly affects insurers using AI for utilization review and healthcare providers seeking authorization for patient treatments.

HB 2671, the Kansas Community Harmed by AI Technology Act, requires AI chatbots in Kansas that simulate emotional or therapeutic interactions (called "companion AI chatbots") to verify user age using commercial methods. It mandates parental consent for minors under 18, blocks minors from accessing content involving suicidal ideation or explicit material, and requires clear pop-up notifications informing users they are interacting with AI. Covered entities must protect age data confidentiality, monitor for suicidal ideation in minor interactions, and provide crisis resources. Compliance guidance from the attorney general is due by December 2026, with enforcement under Kansas consumer protection laws. The bill directly affects AI chatbot companies operating in Kansas and minors using these services.

HB 2594 updates Kansas' blackmail law by removing the requirement that a threatened image must have been obtained illegally (violating privacy laws). The bill now makes it blackmail to threaten sharing any image of an identifiable person who is nude or engaged in sexual activity, including images altered by artificial intelligence. This change broadens the law to cover threats regardless of how the image was obtained, focusing solely on the act of threatening dissemination. The bill directly affects individuals making such threats and the people targeted by these threats.