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HB 1958

Schools; meetings of district boards of education; allowing board to submit an affidavit in lieu of meeting minutes in certain circumstances; effective date.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Kendal Sacchieri and 1 co-sponsor

Arkansas public entities must adopt written policies on technology use, cybersecurity, and AI/automated decisions, require human review for employment decisions, and train staff.

Approved by Governor 04/23/2025
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 1958

Summary — HB 1958 (Arkansas, 95th General Assembly, 2025)

Title shown in provided text: "To require public entities to create a policy concerning the authorized use of artificial intelligence."

Note on document inconsistencies: The materials supplied mix multiple, unrelated items (an Arkansas AI bill text, an Illinois appropriation labelled HB1958, and a different bill title about a local restaurant tax). This summary focuses on the Arkansas bill text provided, which amends Ark. Code § 25-1-128 and concerns AI and technology-use policies for public entities. The legislative history in the package is inconsistent; verify final status with the official Arkansas legislative website.

Purpose / Intent

Require Arkansas public entities to adopt written policies governing:
- authorized use of technology resources,
- cybersecurity (per State Cybersecurity Office standards), and
- use of artificial intelligence (AI) and automated decision tools — including human review requirements and employee training.

Key definitions introduced

  • Artificial intelligence: machine-based systems that make predictions, recommendations, or decisions based on human-defined objectives.
  • Automated decision tool: an AI system specifically developed/ marketed or modified to make or be a controlling factor in consequential decisions.
  • Public entity: broadly defined to include state departments, political subdivisions, public school districts, charter schools, institutions of higher education, and certain commissions and agencies (long enumerated list).
  • Technology resources: hardware, software, networks, telecommunications, procedures, training, and public entity email accounts.

Major provisions

  • Amends Ark. Code § 25-1-128(a)–(e) to add AI-specific requirements.
  • Requires each public entity to create:
    • a technology resources policy defining authorized use;
    • a cybersecurity policy based on State Cybersecurity Office standards (with a carve‑out noted for political subdivisions in one clause);
    • an AI and automated decision tool policy that defines authorized AI uses and requires an authorized human employee (or designee) to make any final employment-related decisions regardless of AI recommendations.
  • Requires development of employee training programs covering technology, cybersecurity, and AI/automated decision tool policies (with a stated exception for political subdivisions regarding cybersecurity training).
  • Requires that technology resources and AI/automated decision tool policies for state entities be available to the public on request.
  • Directs the Department of Education, in coordination with the State Cybersecurity Office, to develop model technology and AI policies for state educational institutions and make them public.
  • Mandates prohibitions in policies on uses such as illegal activities, overriding system security, and certain political/lobbying activities (language in the draft is partially fragmented).
  • Requires public entities to adopt disciplinary procedures for violations (provision text is truncated in the supplied document).

Who would be affected

  • All Arkansas public entities as defined (state agencies, departments, public school districts and boards, charter schools, institutions of higher education, political subdivisions).
  • Employees of those public entities who use technology or AI systems.
  • Vendors and contractors supplying AI/automated decision tools to public entities (policies will govern procurement/use and human-in-the-loop requirements).

Procedural / timeline notes & status

  • Introduced: January 22, 2025 (Representative S. Meeks; Senate cosponsor J. English per Amendment S1).
  • Engrossed version dated 4/9/25 included in materials.
  • The top of the provided bill packet indicates status: "Died In Committee." However, the legislative actions included are inconsistent (some entries suggest passage/enrollment in another bill context). Confirm current status from the Arkansas legislative record.

Potential impacts

  • Increased administrative workload and costs for public entities to draft, adopt, and publish new policies and training materials.
  • Greater transparency and oversight for use of AI by state actors; formalized human-final-decision requirement limits fully automated consequential decisions.
  • Possible procurement and operational changes for agencies using automated decision tools to ensure compliance with policies and training requirements.
  • Legal and personnel implications from enforcement and disciplinary provisions (text incomplete in document).

If you want, I can:
- Verify the bill’s current status with the Arkansas Legislature online record; or
- Produce a redline showing exact code changes (based on the provided text) and highlight truncated/missing sections that require confirmation.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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