HB 286 Utah House · 2026 General Session

Artificial Intelligence Transparency Amendments

HB 286, the Artificial Intelligence Transparency Amendments, requires developers of large "frontier AI models" (those trained with massive computing power and used by over 1 million people monthly, especially in chatbots interacting with minors) to create and publish public safety and child protection plans. It mandates developers to summarize risk assessments for these models, report serious safety incidents to Utah's Office of AI Policy, and prohibits false claims about risks. The bill establishes whistleblower protections for employees reporting safety concerns and creates a dedicated fund to enforce these requirements. These changes directly affect major AI developers, focusing on transparency around risks of serious harm to people or property.

Issues: ✓ Technology

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 20, 2026 Last action Mar 7, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Substitute #1 · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was amended to add a new funding mechanism for enforcement, create a new section for severability, and renumber the remaining sections to accommodate these additions. The original bill required developers to create safety plans and report incidents but lacked a dedicated account to fund enforcement activities; the new version creates the 'AI Transparency Enforcement Restricted Account' to ensure the Attorney General has resources to investigate violations. Additionally, the whistleblower protection sections were renumbered to align with the new structure.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include a specific funding source for enforcement activities, ensuring the state has the financial means to investigate safety violations and pursue penalties against non-compliant developers.

FISCAL

Created a new 'AI Transparency Enforcement Restricted Account' in the General Fund to collect civil penalties and receive legislative appropriations specifically for investigating and enforcing the AI Transparency Act.

TECHNICAL

Added a new Section 13-72b-109 containing severability language to ensure that if any part of the bill is ruled unconstitutional, the rest of the law remains in effect.

Renumbered the whistleblower protection sections (formerly 13-72b-201 through 204) to 13-72b-201 through 204 and shifted the effective date section to Section 14 to accommodate the new enforcement and severability sections.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jan 28, 2026

Lower · Passed

House/ comm rpt/ substituted [House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee]

lower

Jan 27, 2026

Lower · Passed

House Comm - Favorable Recommendation [House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee]

lower

Jan 26, 2026

Committee

House/ to standing committee [House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee]

lower

Jan 20, 2026

Introduced

House/ 1st reading (Introduced)

lower

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor