H.B. 320 Office of Artificial Intelligence Policy Amendments

What this bill does

H.B. 320 changes the Office of Artificial Intelligence Policy so it can make agreements with other state agencies, the judiciary, and educational institutions, not just the Department of Commerce and private companies, and adds joint interpretation agreements on how state law applies to AI. It also lets the office audit and examine AI technology use under agreements, renew agreements, publish guidance, and set participant selection and vetting rules for its AI policy lab.

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Every vote

• 7 yes, 0 no, 3 absentHouse Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee: Amendment Recommendation · Feb 4, 2026Who voted how
• 7 yes, 1 no, 2 absentHouse Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee: vote to approve it · Feb 4, 2026Who voted how
• 69 yes, 0 no, 6 absentFinal House vote · Feb 17, 2026Who voted how
• 6 yes, 0 no, 1 absentSenate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee: vote to approve it · Feb 23, 2026Who voted how
• yes, undefined nocircled · Feb 26, 2026
• 26 yes, 0 no, 3 absentFirst of two Senate votes · Feb 26, 2026
• 28 yes, 0 no, 1 absentFinal Senate vote · Feb 27, 2026Who voted how

Hearings and debates

• Feb 4, 2026 House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee▶ Watch
  Transcript (32 turns)

  1. Committee chair (presiding)1:55:18

     Next on our agenda is HB three 20, and I'll invite, uh, Representative Jack to come and appreciate him being willing to, to chair

  2. Rep. Paul A. Cutler1:55:27

     While We, I present this. I forgot before I, uh, vacated the chair spot to, uh, say it was okay to pass out, uh, a handout on this. So I hope the sub chair allows that. Yes, please. Uh, whoever's got that, maybe you could pass it around to the committee members. And, and also I have an amendment on this that, uh, has a, a clarifying provision that, uh, we need to move before the end. Someone could help me that when we're done, so many of you or some of you know, that, uh, I serve as the, on the AI task force with, uh, uh, a couple of other folks here and also as the technology, uh, chair for NCSL. Thank you. And when we go to these national conventions, everyone wants to know, or everyone is always asking, how is your AI office or office of AI policy doing? We've had a couple of states who have copied our model of setting up a learning lab and a sandbox and this Office of AI policy. Uh, it, it seems to have been very successful. And other states, uh, watch and, and ask for feedback and, and, and duplicate some of our policies. Today, we're coming back with some suggested changes based on, uh, what the office has learned over the past two years in, in going through these. There's, uh, and I think they're, uh, I would advocate that they're all improvements to this. Uh, the office is going to, uh, has, you'll see in here the opportunity to audit and examine ai, uh, technical technology use, especially if there's an agreement. So often the office will make an agreement, but then there wasn't a mechanism to make sure that, uh, companies are following the agreement, which I, I think is a, a great addition. The, the other one, a couple of those that I wanted to point out is the, initially we thought we're gonna have agreements between the Office of AI policy and a a, a private entrepreneur or a company that wants to work with us. It's been evident that there needs to be, that needs to be expanded so that, that an agreement can include the judiciary or educational institutions or other state agencies, not just the Department of Commerce or the Office of AI policy. And then I'm gonna ask, uh, uh, our, uh, director Zach Boyd, who's here with me to speak about the new types of agreement, the, the new agreement that we're introducing here, instead of just a regulatory mitigation agreement. We also have a joint interpretation of agreement, and I'll ask him to explain that if he will.

  3. Zach Boyd, Director, Office of Artificial Intelligence1:58:45

     Right. Thank you. So one of the practical considerations we've encountered when interacting with businesses is there are some who are, you know, super forward leaning and want to go do things that really would require real regulatory reform to happen in the state. And we, we have some examples of that, but we've encountered a lot of businesses that want to do things in a regulated area where it's just not super clear how compliance with the regulation would work in the existing environment. 'cause it wasn't really written with AI in mind. We've had that in our interactions with schools and other settings. And so the new kind of agreement is we're calling, uh, oh, what, what is our joint interpretation agreement to clarify that it's not necessarily authorizing an exception to a law, but just the office and an agency agreeing to interpret the law in a particular way for import enforcement purposes, to allow a business to go forward in the short term until they can seek permanent regulatory clarity from the legislature. And I think that's a great addition and it, it shows that setting up this learning environment, this sandbox was, is a great way to approach this. That we had to start doing this to figure out what the problems are and how to solve that. And I expect we'll see more of this as we continue to, to, to work with companies and figure out how do we set policy in this, uh, uh, leading area.

  4. Rep. Paul A. Cutler2:00:03

     Uh, uh, Dr. Boyd, is there anything else that you want to, to cover or point out in, in terms of this, um, these updates?

  5. Zach Boyd, Director, Office of Artificial Intelligence2:00:12

     No, I, I hit the high points. I think everything else is comparatively minor. I guess we did, we do have one provision that is the amendment that would clarify that, uh, participants in the regulatory mitigation program can seek a 12 month period if necessary. They can seek up to two extensions. We found that some of the companies we're working with, they maybe are ready to go, but it takes time for them to also get permission from a federal co-regulation, or it takes time for them to get agreements with insurance companies that are involved with their business. And so we want a, an opportunity to extend the time, if there are hangups along the way to make sure we have time to prove the efficacy before that moves farther. But we don't wanna leave it open-ended. No. So It has to time out.

  6. Unknown speaker2:00:51speaker not certain

     If, if there is a, a long-term agreement, how would that work if?

  7. Zach Boyd, Director, Office of Artificial Intelligence2:00:55speaker not certain

     Well, so we, we would grant 12 months initially, and the, the goal would be to prove out the technology in the 12 months. If there's some need, then they could apply for a, for an extension.

  8. Rep. Paul A. Cutler2:01:06

     Thank you. That concludes our presentation.

  9. Rep. Jack (acting chair)2:01:10

     Okay. Thank you Representative Cutler. So we'll bring it back to the committee for any discussion or clarifying questions. I have a light from Representative Hansen.

  10. Rep. Leah Hansen2:01:21

      Thank you, chair Pro tem. I just have a question regarding, I, I don't know if it's on line 61 in the amendment, but, um, how is relevant agency defined?

  11. Rep. Paul A. Cutler2:01:33

      Great. I, my understanding is, uh, and I'll let, uh, that speak to this is there would be an agreement between an agency, for example, a state, if it's a healthcare related application, it it may be a, uh, a healthcare state agency rather than just the Department of Commerce. So if it's using AI in the corrections system, then corrections would be the relevant agency in involved. So it's, it's the agent, the agency that's relevant to the agreement. Is that okay? Thank You. Yeah, usually whoever's in charge of enforcing it.

  12. Rep. Leah Hansen2:02:10

      Thank you. Okay, thank you.

  13. Committee chair (presiding)2:02:14

      I see no further questions from the committee. Is there any comment from the public? Anyone here to speak to this bill? Is there anyone online? No. All right. Seeing no public comment, we'll close public comment and we'll bring it back to the Committee for action. Oh, Yes, He, Seth Stewart, just, he's online for public comment. Uh, Mr. Stewart, did you want to comment on this? Bill? If so, please turn on your camera and unmute and identify yourself and who you, your name and where you're from and who you represent.

  14. Seth Stewart, American Fork resident2:03:00

      Yeah. I'm Seth Stewart, just, uh, representing myself. I'm from American Fork. Um, I do have a concern with this bill in that it appears to create some regulatory loopholes, uh, for well advantaged, well favored players in the ai, uh, marketplace. And I've been seeing quite a few bills in this session that, uh, have that effect of actually increasing the barrier to entry for smaller players and, uh, create, escape, uh, pressure relief valves for the bigger players, actually, even while, uh, claiming to, uh, regulate and, and keep them under control. So I just wanted to raise that concern here and ask, uh, as I so often do, uh, what, uh, what specific enumerated power in our, uh, state constitution authorizes this type of regulation. Thank you.

  15. Committee chair (presiding)2:03:50

      All right. Thank you for your public comment. We'll bring it back to the committee Representative Fiefia.

  16. Rep. Doug Fiefia2:03:57

      Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that we adopt amendment one.

  17. Committee chair (presiding)2:04:02

      Okay. That, uh, motion is in, is in order. Um, so I accept a motion of, uh, adopting Amendment one. It's Amendment one, is that correct? Yes, please. Yes. Okay.

  18. Committee chair (presiding)2:04:18

      So, um, to the bill sponsor,

  19. Rep. Paul A. Cutler2:04:21

      Th Thank you. Appreciate that motion. And if, if I could just take a minute to respond to the, uh, the, the previous comment, we've clearly, uh, given the Department of Commerce, the authority to, to regulate in this area.

  20. Rep. Paul A. Cutler2:04:33

      And I'd also ask Dr. Boyd, my understanding is most of the, uh, participants in the learning lab and that we have agreements with our startups or very small companies. Could you speak to that?

  21. Zach Boyd, Director, Office of Artificial Intelligence2:04:44

      Yes, that's true. So, for example, we have a small string of local, uh, homeless dental clinics that is engaged with us. We just got back from a meeting with, with another set of local healthcare clinics, um, you know, uh, transportation, startups, things like that. So mostly small entities have found this program.

  22. Committee chair (presiding)2:05:02

      Interesting. Thank you. All right. Thank you. So, uh, any comment from the committee to the Motion to Adopt First Amendment? Seeing none, we'll bring it back to the bill sponsor for the final word. Appreciate It. All right. Maker of the motion, I'll Waive. All right.

  23. Committee chair (presiding)2:05:22

      So we'll take a vote. All in favor of adopting amendment one to HB three 20. Please say aye. Aye. Aye. Alright. Chair rules. That passes unanimously. So now we're speaking to HB three 20 as amended. We'll bring it back to the Committee for Action. Representative Fiefia, I have your light on.

  24. Rep. Doug Fiefia2:05:47

      Thank you. I move that we favorably move forward, HB three 20 as amended to the full body of the house.

  25. Committee chair (presiding)2:05:56

      Okay. That motion is in order to pass out HB three 20 as amended to the full body of the house. Uh, any comments from the bill sponsor? Appreciate

  26. Rep. Paul A. Cutler2:06:11

      That. This, this sets a, a, a number of, uh, common sense changes that helps us, uh, move forward in our AI policy. Uh, uh, leadership in the, in the nation allows, uh, more flexible agreements, and I think this makes it better for all of us who are trying to figure out how we navigate this new space. So appreciate the effort.

  27. Committee chair (presiding)2:06:30

      Thank you. All right. The maker of the motion? Any final word?

  28. Rep. Doug Fiefia2:06:34

      No, I, I just appreciate all the, the work that Dr. Boyd has done and Director Bussy on this. This has been, um, an area that we've led in the country and I think just redefining some areas and, um, clearing up some definitions is what's needed here. Um, and, and I think other states, and probably what the country needs to do is add a regulatory sandbox, um, like, like we do in Utah. And so just appreciate all the good work here.

  29. Committee chair (presiding)2:07:03

      Excellent. Alright then, uh, the motion before us is to pass out HB three 20 as amended office of artificial Intelligence policy amendments. All in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed? Nay. Nay. Sorry. Nay one? Nay. Okay. So, uh, chair rules. There is one nay Representative Hansen, and the rest were eyes. How many is that? Seven. 7, 7 1. All right.

  30. Committee chair (presiding)2:07:34

      Congratulations, chair Cutler. Uh, bill is passed out.

  31. Rep. Paul A. Cutler2:07:38

      Thank you. Do you wanna do the, uh,

  32. Rep. Jack (acting chair)2:07:39

      the honors to close this? I see. Anything else? Alright, so I would make one final motion to adjourn. All in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed? No chair rules That passes.

• Feb 17, 2026 House floor debate▶ Watch
  Transcript (3 turns)

  1. Speaker (presiding)36:52

     House Bill three 20, office of Artificial Intelligence Policy Amendments by Representative Cutler. This bill was heard in Economic Development and Workforce Services with the vote of 7 1 2 Representative Cutler.

  2. Rep. Paul A. Cutler37:06

     Thank you Mr. Speaker. The art of, uh, office of Artificial Intelligence policy was created a couple of years ago, and after working for a couple of years, it's time for some updates. Uh, the, the most important, uh, update is in the type of agreements that the office can make, uh, and is authorized to enter into. Originally they anticipated the regulatory mitigation agreements, which would mean, uh, a company would come and work with them and they would mitigate, uh, uh, any effects as long as they were working in the AI sandbox together. And, and that continues, but there's a couple of important changes. One, instead of just agreements with the Office of AI Policy and the Department of Commerce, they, they need to expand that to have other agencies be able to be a party to the agreement, uh, across all, all types of government agencies, as, as many other agencies are affected. And they need to be parties to that agreement. The second important, uh, change Mr. Speaker, is the introduction of joint interpretation agreements. So often the request is not I need mitigation, but let's agree on what the law is and what it says or what the rules say about the use of artificial intelligence in a certain situation. So this would allow the Office of AI policy to make an agreement to have a clarity or an understanding about how a provision of state code applies to AI technology, which is, uh, needed. The last thing to be aware of is, is they now, uh, this also adds the ability for them to audit, uh, uh, companies that they have agreement with for a certain amount of time and to renew those agreements. Uh, that was missing in the first, uh, as when we set up the office. Uh, there's been universal support for this and I hope you can, uh, support this legislation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

  3. Speaker (presiding)39:01

     Thank you, Representative Cutler. Uh, discussion to the bill being known back chair Representative Cutler for summation, I'll WA summation has been waived. Voting will now be open on HB three 20. Seeing all President having voted voting is now closed. HB three 20 passes this body with 69 yes votes, zero no votes, and be sent to the Senate for its consideration. Madam Marine and Clerk

• Feb 23, 2026 Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee▶ Watch
  Transcript (9 turns)

  1. Committee chair37:19

     Let's call, uh, house Bill three 20 office artificial intelligent policy amendments Representative Cutler.

  2. Rep. Paul A. Cutler37:35

     Thank you, Mr. Chair. I appreciate, I was just here to say I can, I'm next door presenting a bill, but I can, I'm great to do this now. So, HB three 20 is in partnership with the, uh, AI policy Office from our Department of Commerce. The office has been doing great work for a couple of years, and they've realized that we need to tweak a few of the, uh, policies that they work under. Uh, first major change is right now they do, uh, regular, they, excuse me, they get, they do regulatory mitigation agreements that say, if you want to play in this AI sandbox, here's the agreement we're gonna work under. You agree to, to do some things. And we agree to let you mitigate your, your actions As they have worked, uh, they've realized they also need a, another type of agreement, the authority to, and that's called a joint interpretation agreement, where companies don't need mitigation relief, they just need an understanding of what the law is and, and what the regulations mean in their space. And so that's a new type of, uh, agreement that's being added. In addition agreements, uh, in addition to agreements between the Office of AI policy and a private company who's working in this space, they've realized that other agencies need to be brought in and be parties to these agreements, uh, because other state agencies are impacted by AI policy. So it also adds the ability to include other agencies in the agreements that are being made by the AI policy. Uh, I would say the other, uh, there's a few other definitions and maybe the other key policy is it gives them the ability to audit, uh, make an agreement and then continue to audit that agreement for, for, uh, a number of years after the fact. And I have, uh, our, uh, director of the AI policy office, Zach Boyd with us, who also can provide, uh, insight and anything that I left off, No, I think that's a great summary. The only thing I would say is, you know, it's been a fast couple of years in ai. A lot of things have changed. We're trying as a state to be as forward looking and prudent as possible. So when this statute was originally passed, it had an intent. We're still committed to the intent that the legislature had with that statute. We're just finding that some details need to be rejiggered to make it actually effective and deliver value to Utah companies and consumers. Okay. That concludes our presentation.

  3. Committee chair40:11

     All right. Questions for the sponsor? Seeing none, let's go to the public for public comment. Anyone who would like to speak to this bill? Seeing none. Back to the committee for further consideration.

  4. Sen. Evan J. Vickers40:28

     Senator Vickers. Thanks, Mr. Chair. I would make a motion that we favorably recommend House Bill three 20.

  5. Committee chair40:35

     Discussion to that motion. Back to the sponsor. Waive.

  6. Sen. Evan J. Vickers40:39

     Senator Vickers. I'll waive. Okay.

  7. Committee chair40:41

     We'll call the question. All those in favor of house Bill three 20 out favorably say Aye.

  8. Unknown speaker40:46speaker not certain

     Aye. Aye. Aye. Senator Bo Aye. Thank

  9. Committee chair40:56

     you. That is five zero. And that passes then. Hmm. Senator Mikel, are you ready?

• Feb 26, 2026 Senate floor debate▶ Watch
  Transcript (8 turns)

  1. President Adams (presiding)1:11:54

     Aye. Any opposed? That motion passes. The bill is uncircled.

  2. Sen. Kirk A. Cullimore1:12:00

     Thank you. HB three 20 deals with the AI policy lab. It's a reorganization and renumbering of some of the definitions and sections. It updates guidelines on how agencies collaborate on AI policy and agreements. It enables the office to develop and publish guidance for businesses and consumers about AI best practices. It defines more specific guidelines for selecting participants to work with, including focusing on applicant's relevance and utilities. So one of the functions of the AI policy lab is to invite businesses to come in, show 'em how show, show the policy lab, how they plan to deploy AI and then seek for some regulatory certainty. And so this would encourage that clarifies that the office is vetting and monitoring of participants'. Innovative AI deployments constitutes an audit for grammar purposes and then clarifies the types of agreements the office can enter into.

  3. President Adams (presiding)1:12:53

     Alright. Does that conclude your presentation? It Does. Alright. I don't see anybody up on the bill. So Senator Cullimore,

  4. Sen. Kirk A. Cullimore1:13:02

     I will move that. We read HB three 20 for a third time.

  5. President Adams (presiding)1:13:06

     Alright. And the question is, shall HB three 20 be read for a third time? Roll call vote.

  6. Unknown speaker1:13:11speaker not certain

     Senator Vickers. Spry Lewin Bramer plus Palmore Aye. Esia Aye. Fillmore Aye. Grover Harper. Hello, sir. Hankins Ipson Johnson. I Can wan Yes. Um, McKay Mikel. Okay. Milner, We'll do it now. Musman Owens pitcher thumb. Um, re, sandal Stevenson. Stevenson Stratton Vickers. Aye. Weiler A KI. Aye. Wilson. Aye. Winterton Winterton.

  7. Senate clerk1:14:18

     President Adams, Excuse me. First substitute house bill 3 39. Having received 26, what's that sorry, house Bill three 20. Having received 26 I votes zero. Nay votes with three being absent shall be read for a third time.

  8. President Adams (presiding)1:14:43

     We're gonna, um, go back to the third reading calendar for a moment and I'm going to recognize Senator Fillmore. Senator Fillmore, thank

• Feb 27, 2026 Senate floor debate▶ Watch
  Transcript (6 turns)

  1. Sen. Kirk A. Cullimore14:07

     and renumbering of some of the definitions and sections. It updates guidelines on how agencies can collaborate with the AI policy lab and, and, and some of the agreements that the AI policy lab can can issue. It enables the office to develop and publish guidance for businesses and consumers about AI best practices. It defines more specific guidelines for selecting, uh, businesses and participants to work with, including focusing on an applicant's relevance and utility. It clarifies that the office's vetting and monitoring of participants innovative AI deployment constitutes an audit for grammar purposes. And then finally, it clarifies the types of agreements that the office can enter into.

  2. Senate President Adams (presiding)14:49

     Thank you. Senator. Say no discussion. I'm gonna go to you for a motion.

  3. Sen. Kirk A. Cullimore14:57

     Our motion is we pass HB three 20. Thank you.

  4. Senate President Adams (presiding)14:59

     The question is, shall house bill three 20 pass. Roll call vote. Senator Spery Aye. Lewin Aye. Rammer Aye. Bus Comore. Aye. Escamia Fillmore Aye. Grover Harper Hankins Ipson. Johnson. K Juab McKay Mikel Milner Milner Musselman Owens Pitcher Aye. Lum Rebi Sandal Stevenson Stratton Vickers. Weiler Aye. Wilson Aye. Winterton Milner Aye. President Adams Aye. House Bill three 20 Having received 28 yay votes, his zero nay votes, one being absent, passes his body and will be signed by the President and returned the house for the signature of the speaker.

  5. Senate President Adams (presiding)16:13

     Second substitute Senate Bill 2 98. Second substitute Senate bill 2 98 Programmable Money Amendments. Senator Stratton. Senator Stratton.

  6. Sen. Keven J. Stratton16:28

     Thank you Mr. President. This is a bill.