Technology and Artificial Intelligence

Innovation has helped make Utah one of the nation’s leading economies. As emerging technologies continue to transform the way we live, work, and learn, the Utah House of Representatives is committed to fostering innovation while protecting Utahns’ privacy, safety, and individual freedoms.

Utah is leading the nation in protecting kids from the harmful effects of social media, artificial intelligence, and addictive technology. We have enacted commonsense policies to protect children online, safeguard personal privacy, promote responsible AI use, and ensure technology in the classroom supports learning rather than distracts from it. These efforts reflect our commitment to embracing innovation without compromising the well-being of Utah’s families.

Funding Highlights

  • $33.6 million for Artificial Intelligence Capacity Building in Higher Education

    Enabled the University of Utah to develop and maintain in-house capabilities to process large language models

  • $18.6 million for the Utah Health Artificial Intelligence Vault (UHAIV)

    Supported the development of the Utah Health AI Vault by modernizing the Utah Population Database to accelerate discovery, improve outcomes, and drive economic growth

  • $15 million for the artificial intelligence public-private partnership ecosystem

    Supported a public-private partnership aimed at enhancing the Utah System of Higher Education's artificial intelligence capacity

  • $3 million for the Energy, Artificial Intelligence, and Deep Tech Workforce Accelerator

    Provided funding to the Board of Higher Education to oversee these systemwide priorities, oversee programs, and ensure their success

  • $1.9 million to help state agencies further their AI adoption

    Enabled state agencies to identify high impact use cases and develop more tailored solutions

Recent Legislation

HB 276

2026

Artificial Intelligence Modifications

Established guardrails to protect Utahns from AI-generated deepfake intimate images by requiring verified consent, setting clear takedown rules, and creating penalties to hold bad actors accountable

HB 55

2026

Privacy Compliance for Education Technology Vendors

Created stronger student data privacy protections and ensured technology vendors are held accountable for misuse of student information

SB 69

2026

Dedicated Water Amendments

Created a bell-to-bell cell phone ban in schools, while still allowing exceptions for safety, medical needs, and emergencies