The bills would set rules for AI developers, chatbots, consumer data, rent-setting tools, ticket bots, and the use of AI in schools.
Illinois Senate Democrats advanced an eight-bill package to regulate specific uses of AI, creating proposed new obligations for AI developers, businesses, schools, landlords, and ticket sellers.
Several senators introduced the package with two weeks left in the spring legislative session. Senator Bill Cunningham (D-18th District) said lawmakers acted because “not much is happening at all in Washington.”
Below, we outline the bills by topic and what they seek to accomplish.
Transparency
Senator Mary Edly-Allen (D-31st District) is sponsoring Senate Bill (SB) 315, the Artificial Intelligence Safety Measures Act.
The bill applies to AI developers with more than $500 million in annual gross revenue. Under the proposed regulations, these developers would have to develop, publish, and adhere to a governance structure where the developer –
- Assesses product capabilities and potential for “catastrophic risk,” defined as a foreseeable risk that a model could help cause more than 50 deaths, serious injuries, or more than $1 billion in property damage.
- Publishes safety plans and annual third-party audits.
- Reports and takes action on critical safety incidents.
- Issues transparency reports before launching new model releases or significant updates.
- Conducts annual reviews of the governance framework and publicly notes changes.
- Faces penalties for retaliating against internal whistleblowers.
Edly-Allen said the bill seeks to “balanc[e] the great promise of AI with its potential harms.”
Minor Safety and Chatbot Communication
SB 316, sponsored by Senator Laura Ellman (D-21st District), mandates AI chatbots designed for social or emotional interaction to create a framework to help users who express suicidal thoughts or self-harm. When these patterns are detected, the chatbots would discourage users from suicidal or harmful actions and refer users to crisis resources. Ellman said AI is “not necessarily trained in crisis response,” especially for mental health situations.
Separately, it prohibits minors from creating sexually explicit material.
Finally, the AI must remind users they are communicating with an AI chatbot at the beginning of the session and once every three hours.
Similarly, SB 317, the Consumer Artificial Intelligence Notice Act, requires businesses that use chatbots to notify customers that they are using an AI system at the outset of a conversation.
Senator Rachel Ventura (D-43rd District), the bill’s sponsor, said people “deserve to know” whether they are communicating with a person or an AI system.
Consumer Protections
Manipulating ticket sales
Senator Steve Stadelman (D-34th District) introduced SB 318, prohibiting electronic methods, including AI, from manipulating event ticket quantities and prices. It also prohibits resellers from falsely claiming affiliation with an artist, team, venue, or event organizer.
Data protections
SB 340, sponsored by Senator Laura Murphy (D-28th District), would empower consumers to opt out of advertising tracking or the sale of their personal data to third parties. It further bars the sale of data for use in “high-risk” decisions, such as employment and home loans.
Preventing rent collusion
Senator Graciela Guzmán (D-20th District) sponsored SB 343. The bill would prohibit landlords from using shared software or outside services to set rental prices together. It targets tools that collect market data from multiple landlords and suggest rent levels, which can lead competing landlords to charge similar prices. Guzmán said the bill targets “AI-driven rent fixing schemes” that undermine competition.
AI in schools
Limited biometric data use – SB 415 would restrict school districts from using biometric data, including facial recognition, except for legitimate instructional purposes. Bill sponsor, Senator Karina Villa (D-25th District), said the goal is to protect children from invasive surveillance and misuse of sensitive personal data.
SB 416, sponsored by Senator Robert Martwick (D-10th District), would prohibit teachers from using AI to assign grades. It would also require school boards to approve other AI uses involving students or student work by the 2026-27 school year. Martwick said student evaluations should reflect “human judgment, context and understanding.”
The bills passed out of committee, with all but two advancing unanimously. Technical amendments are expected before floor votes.
