Creating and strengthening task forces focused on artificial intelligence is the latest trend at state legislatures across the country. Whether building on previous efforts or initiating something new, the most recent legislative pushes in West Virginia, Illinois and Alaska come as polling shows significant public concern about the impacts of AI.
New research shows significant gaps between how AI experts and the general public view artificial intelligence. According to an April 2025 Pew Research Center survey, experts are far more positive about AI’s future impact than average Americans.
The study found that while 56% of AI experts believe artificial intelligence will have a positive impact on the U.S. over the next 20 years, only 17% of the general public shares this optimism. Similarly, 73% of experts predict AI will positively affect how people do their jobs, compared to just 23% of the public.
As the AI revolution becomes impossible to ignore, task forces intend to position states in a proactive footing as they assess the potential benefits of the new technology. However, because of the gap between public and expert opinion, state efforts to harness AI also typically come with an emphasis on oversight and accountability with clear reporting requirements and opportunities for public input.
In West Virginia, House Bill 3187 would amend existing code to expand the responsibilities of the state’s AI Task Force. The bill adds “identification of economic opportunities related to AI” to the task force’s agenda and requires annual reports to the legislature and governor.
The task force, which is organized within the Office of the Governor, consists of representatives from both legislative chambers, various state agencies—including the Office of Technology and Department of Homeland Security—and industry experts. The legislation extends the task force’s termination date from July 1, 2025, to July 1, 2027, providing a longer runway for its work. The bill has cleared the House and Senate.
Illinois House Bill 3646 modifies the operational structure of the state’s existing Generative AI and Natural Language Processing Task Force established under the Department of Innovation and Technology Act. The bill replaces the requirement for “at least five public meetings” with authorization to meet “as frequently as necessary” and adds a hybrid meeting format with both virtual and in-person options.
The legislation also shifts reporting requirements from a single report due Dec. 31, 2024, to ongoing “periodic reports” to the governor and General Assembly. The bill passed in the House and will now head to the Senate for consideration.
Alaska’s House Concurrent Resolution 3 would establish a new Joint Legislative Task Force on Artificial Intelligence with a comprehensive mandate. The resolution directs the task force to evaluate current and potential AI applications in state government, assess economic opportunities, investigate ethical and privacy concerns, explore workforce implications, recommend policies and develop a strategic plan.
The resolution specifically cites AI’s potential to “enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of state government operations” while acknowledging the technology requires “careful legislative oversight.” The task force would submit its findings by Jan. 31, 2026, with authorization to provide interim reports as needed. The resolution has been referred to the House Finance Committee.
The latest wave of state task forces builds upon AI-related legislation already enacted across the country. As Government Market News reported in 2024, over a dozen states have passed legislation typically focused on establishing study committees and taking inventory of existing AI use in government agencies.
In addition to task forces, the legislative focus has shifted toward targeted regulation addressing potential harms, particularly around disclosure requirements for AI-generated content, protecting against deepfakes and preventing AI-generated misinformation from influencing voters. Some states are combining regulatory approaches with investments in education and AI pilot programs to balance innovation with appropriate safeguards.
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