Michigan Bill Seeks to Wrangle ‘Wild West’ of Gov AI Use
Michigan Bill Seeks to Wrangle ‘Wild West’ of Gov AI Use
https://www.govtech.com/policy/michigan-bill-seeks-to-wrangle-wild-west-of-gov-ai-use
Publish Date: 2026-05-26 15:25:00
Source Domain: www.govtech.com
(TNS) — Michigan’s state government employees are now living in the “Wild West” of artificial intelligence, and “state government can do whatever they want with AI,” said state Rep. Jaime Greene, R-Richmond.
“Nobody has really been revealing how they’re utilizing AI right now,” Greene said of the state’s departments. “It’s still kind of a mystery.”
A pilot program would begin to address that, Greene said, studying generative AI use to make government more effective and ensure oversight.
“There are clear benefits to generative AI, like improved efficiency, but we have to take precautions,” Greene said. “We need to evaluate this technology closely before it is implemented broadly across state government.”
The bill was voted unanimously out of the House Communications and Technology Committee on Tuesday, May 19. It’s been referred to the House Rules committee.
The legislation comes as Michigan and other states begin to dive into AI regulation, and as the data centers that help them run continue to dominate the public conversation during a high-profile election year.
All 50 states, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Washington, D.C. introduced legislation on the topic of AI in 2025, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
That includes several states setting funds aside for studies on the impact of AI on government, employment and healthcare.
A September 2024 survey by Ernst & Young LLP, referenced by the National Conference of State Legislatures, found that 51% of federal, state and local government employees used an AI application daily or several times a week.
As a result, there are “numerous” pilot programs of AI by state governments across the country, according to Kevin Frazier, a senior fellow at the technology nonprofit Abundance Institute who spoke during May 12 testimony.
He said that includes in states…
