SIIA Testifies on Illinois AI Bills, Urges Risk-Based Approach to Protect Innovation and Consumers

SIIA Director of AI Policy Bethany Abbate testified before the Illinois Senate Subcommittee on AI, outlining the association's concerns with several proposed bills and advocating for a more balanced, risk-based regulatory framework. Across both her written and verbal testimony, Abbate emphasized that while public policy plays a critical role in building trust and advancing safe AI development, poorly calibrated legislation could create unintended consequences that harm innovation, limit access to beneficial tools, and introduce constitutional concerns.

SIIA raised particular concerns about applying traditional product liability frameworks to generative AI, regulating frontier models at the state level, and imposing premature audit and transparency requirements without established standards. Instead, the organization urged lawmakers to align with emerging federal guidance, adopt clear and predictable risk-based approaches, and ensure that policies reflect the diverse use cases of AI-including in education. Overall, SIIA's testimony calls for thoughtful legislation that protects consumers while preserving innovation, competitiveness, and national security.

Written Testimony | Verbal Testimony