Illinois Passes Landmark AI Safety Bill with Third-Party Audits

The Illinois House of Representatives has passed SB 315, a bill that would require leading artificial intelligence companies like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google DeepMind to have their safety practices audited by independent third parties. If signed into law by Governor JB Pritzker—who has indicated he will do so—the measure would become the nation’s most stringent check on major AI developers.

The legislation mandates that AI labs adhere to their own safety standards, with verification conducted by external auditors such as major accounting firms or specialized evaluators. Supporters argue that without such oversight, companies are effectively grading their own homework, a situation the bill aims to correct.

Illinois joins California and New York in enacting AI safety rules, but goes further by requiring independent audits. State Representative Daniel Didech, a sponsor, called the bill a testing ground for potential federal legislation. The proposal has drawn support from OpenAI and Anthropic, but opposition from trade groups like Chamber of Progress, which warned of exposing sensitive systems to untested auditors.

Governor Pritzker cited the need to hold Big Tech accountable, while the Trump administration has sought to roll back similar regulations. The bill’s passage marks a significant step in the ongoing state-level battle over AI oversight.