SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Governor JB Pritzker has signed a bill to create safety standards and transparency requirements for large artificial intelligence developers.
Pritzker signed SB 315, the Artificial Intelligence Safety Measure Act Monday.
Developers like ChatGPT and Claude will be required to give Illinois an independent annual report documenting the mechanisms they use to address catastrophic risks.
Lawmakers also demanded AI companies report critical safety issues within 72 hours of learning about them or 24 hours if the incident poses an imminent risk of death or physical harm.
"These provisions closely mirror what is already law in New York and California," said Rep. Daniel Didech (D-Buffalo Grove). "Additionally, this bill includes strong whistleblower protections for employees who raise safety concerns and independent third-party audits to verify compliance."
Senate Bill 315 passed unanimously out of the House May 27. The proposal previously received a 52-5 vote in the Senate.
"The Illinois General Assembly has shown real bipartisan leadership in advancing Senate Bill 315 and developing a thoughtful framework for frontier AI safety," said OpenAI spokesperson Jamie Radice. "As AI systems become more capable, clear expectations around safety, transparency, incident reporting, and accountability matter."
Anthropic also celebrated the bipartisan effort to make Illinois the first state to require independent third-party audits of large frontier AI developer safety practices. The business said this plan takes the safety practices leading labs already follow voluntarily and helps establish a baseline that every AI developer is expected to meet.
"As these models grow more powerful, this kind of enforceable accountability matters more than ever," said Head of US State and Local Government Relations at Anthropic Cesar Fernandez. "Illinois lawmakers have set a new standard, and we hope other states and the federal government build on their dedication to AI safety."
Governor Pritzker said Monday, “As AI systems become more powerful and the federal government is unwilling to step in, states have a responsibility to protect our people from the dangers of AI while still harnessing the unique potential of the technology. People want protections from the risks of AI and Illinois is stepping up with a bipartisan, first- and most-protective-in-the-nation law.”
“Artificial intelligence is creating incredible opportunities, but it also brings new risks, especially for young people," said Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton. "Illinois is showing that innovation and accountability can go hand in hand by setting clear expectations that help protect our communities while supporting the responsible development and use of AI. We can embrace emerging technology while ensuring it reflects our values, safeguards the public, and helps build a stronger future for everyone."
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