Safety
Illinois Passes Major AI Safety Law for Frontier Labs
Illinois House passes SB 315, requiring third-party audits of AI safety practices by major labs like OpenAI and Google DeepMind.
Photo: Tima Miroshnichenko / Pexels
The Illinois House of Representatives passed SB 315, a bill requiring frontier AI labs such as OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google DeepMind to undergo third-party safety audits. If signed into law, it would be the nation’s most comprehensive check on AI company practices, according to AI safety experts. The bill now awaits Governor JB Pritzker’s signature, who expressed support on social media, citing the need to hold Big Tech accountable. *Source: [wired](https://www.wired.com/story/illinois-pass-major-ai-safety-law-pritzker/)*
SB 315 mandates that AI labs have their safety practices verified by independent auditors, a step beyond current state laws in California and New York, which require transparency reports but not third-party checks. Scott Wisor, policy director at Secure AI Project, noted that AI companies currently self-grade their safety commitments. "Should SB 315 become law, Illinois would require an independent auditor to check whether the AI labs in fact adhere to their safety commitments," Wisor said. *Source: [wired](https://www.wired.com/story/illinois-pass-major-ai-safety-law-pritzker/)*
The bill is expected to use major accounting firms like Deloitte and PwC, as well as the AI Evaluator Forum, for audits. Illinois state representative Daniel Didech, a sponsor of SB 315, emphasized the role of state legislatures in shaping AI policy and acting as a testing ground for federal laws. "Laws like this create a world where it’s more likely for the federal government to pass something," Didech said. *Source: [wired](https://www.wired.com/story/illinois-pass-major-ai-safety-law-pritzker/)*
OpenAI initially supported a liability shield in an Illinois bill but later withdrew that support, endorsing SB 315 instead. Anthropic called itself the first AI lab to support the legislation. Meanwhile, the Chamber of Progress, a trade group with Google and Apple as partners, urged Illinois lawmakers to oppose SB 315, arguing it would expose systems to untested auditors. *Source: [wired](https://www.wired.com/story/illinois-pass-major-ai-safety-law-pritzker/)*
Key points
- Illinois House passed SB 315 requiring third-party audits of AI safety practices by major labs like OpenAI and Google DeepMind.
- SB 315 would be the nation’s leading check on the power of major AI companies if signed into law.
- Illinois’ bill goes beyond California and New York laws by requiring independent auditors to verify AI lab safety standards.
- AI safety experts say companies currently self-grade their safety commitments, and SB 315 would require independent verification.
- Illinois state representative Daniel Didech said state legislatures are shaping AI policy and acting as a testing ground for federal laws.
- OpenAI initially supported a liability shield in an Illinois bill but later withdrew that support, endorsing SB 315 instead.
- The Chamber of Progress, a trade group with Google and Apple as partners, urged Illinois lawmakers to oppose SB 315.