Subcommittee refers AI risk bill for public bodies to appropriations after debate over scope
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Summary
A Virginia legislative subcommittee voted to report Senate Bill 12-14 to the Appropriations Committee after proponents said the measure would create transparency and guardrails for public-sector use of “high‑risk” AI systems and one lawmaker said the bill’s breadth could deter technology investment.
Senator Ayard introduced Senate Bill 12-14, a measure that would set rules for use of high‑risk artificial intelligence systems by public bodies, and the subcommittee voted to report the bill to the Appropriations Committee on an 8‑2 vote.
The bill’s sponsor, Senator Ayard, told the subcommittee the measure “put[s] in place very specific guardrails for how our public bodies are using these high risk systems and to ensure that there is an increased level of transparency, and accountability with very specific measures of reporting.” The bill also revises the definition of facial recognition to clarify “the use of databases of photographs or images” compared with the prior code language, the sponsor said.
The measure drew support from representatives of technology service providers. Elizabeth Rafferty, speaking for ID.me, urged the committee to distinguish between facial recognition and facial verification, saying the bill clarifies “1 to 1 versus 1 to many” uses.
Opposition was limited on the record. Delegate Griffin said the bill’s extensive new language — which he described as “page after page after page of italics” — could create regulatory burdens that hamper investment in AI in Virginia. “I’m gonna have to vote no,” Griffin said, explaining his concern that the law might send the message that “Virginia is not open for business.”
Other members defended the bill’s scope. A sponsor ally said the Commonwealth’s code lacks definitions and measures for emerging AI technologies and that the bill provides “clarity, transparency and guardrails that are flexible and breathable” without inhibiting innovation, remarks echoed by Delegate Maldonado, who thanked the patron for months of stakeholder work.
The subcommittee recorded the motion to “report and refer Senate Bill 12‑14 to appropriations,” opened and closed the roll, and reported the bill to the Appropriations Committee on a vote of 8 in favor and 2 opposed. The mover and seconder were not specified on the record.
The bill text on the record includes revised definitions for facial recognition/verification and reporting requirements for public bodies; the committee did not take further amendments in session.
Votes at a glance: Senate Bill 12‑14 — reported and referred to Appropriations (vote: 8‑2).