As members of the Missouri House and Senate began filing legislation Monday for the upcoming legislative session, a handful of proposals imposing new rules on AI were introduced, including protections for children and rules for chatbots.
Among them is a proposal from Rep. Jeff Farnan , R- Stanberry , who wants to crack down on so-called “deep-fakes,” in which someone can compile images or sounds using machine learning algorithms.
“Someone can take someone’s face and put it on someone else’s body and make it into a video or a photo. If a person doesn’t consent to that, I think that should be a violation of law,” Farnan said Tuesday.
He said he was aware of the president’s concerns about state-level AI regulations, but said his proposal addresses an immediate need.
“I understand where he’s coming from," Farnan said. "I think there are a lot of useful things AI can do. But when you get into pornography, I’m sure President Trump doesn’t want pornographic deep fakes out there.”
The push for laws governing AI come as Trump has drafted an executive order aimed at stopping states from setting their own guidelines for AI use because it could dampen innovation and growth for the technology.
If Missouri lawmakers press forward in the upcoming session, they would join at least four other states — Colorado , California , Utah and Texas — that have passed laws setting some rules for AI across the private sector, according to the International Association of Privacy Professionals .
The laws and proposed regulations are in response to the rapid spread of AI in helping get job interviews, filling out home loan applications and discussing medical treatments.
State supporters of the technology include Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway , who said it could be helpful in writing legal briefs. Others are wary, including Gov. Mike Kehoe , who has said there need to be guardrails on the technology.
Kehoe, however, said Tuesday the state is moving forward with rolling out some AI offerings to help Missourians navigate government programs.
“You use it to reduce workload and increase efficiency, hopefully delivering a better customer experience for the taxpayer,” Kehoe said.
Along with Farnan’s proposed law, Rep. Scott Cupps , R- Shell Knob , wants to crack down on artificially generated visual depictions of minors, putting the violation into state obscenity statutes.
Rep. Scott Miller , R- St. Charles , introduced two AI-related measures, including one requiring AI-generated images to be labeled. It also allows people to sue for damages if they suffer any injury from an image, video or audio.
He also is sponsoring a proposal designed to protect children from using chatbots as companions or for recreational purposes.
Miller's plan would prohibit bots that are part of a video game from discussing sensitive topics, including mental health, self-harm and sexually explicit conduct.
"It shall be unlawful for a person who owns or controls a website, application, software, or program to allow a minor to access a companion chatbot for recreational, relational, or companion purposes," the legislation says.
In addition, companies that offer companion chatbot services would have to very that the user is not a minor.
Miller also wants to prohibit AI systems from being recognized as a person, spouse, partner or an executive. Under his bill, an AI-created image could not be legally capable of owning or controlling property, including intellectual, financial and digital assets.
Sen. Joe Nicola , R- Grain Valley , wants to ban deep fakes, but also keep AI from being used to manipulate elections.
As a church pastor, Nicola said there are multiple audio and video recordings of himself that could be transformed into a negative, false image designed to turn voters away from him.
“It’s dangerous. It could ruin people’s lives,” Nicola said, adding his bill would require campaign advertisements that use AI to include a disclaimers noting that.
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures , all 50 states have considered AI legislation this year.
Trump’s proposed order aims to identify burdensome state AI regulations and pressure states to not enact them, potentially by withholding federal funds.
The president said a state-by-state regulatory scenario could allow China to gain a larger foothold in the AI race.
During congressional hearings earlier this year, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said “it is very difficult to imagine us figuring out how to comply with 50 different sets of regulation.”
Nicola said he understands Trump’s caution about state-level laws, but there is an immediate need for regulation.
“I think some of these laws need to be done now, especially with the fast rate of expansion of AI," Nicola said. "It’s a wonderful tool, but like anything else, it can be exploited and do real damage to people.”
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