Federal
Artificial Intelligence
Although Artificial Intelligence has received Federal scrutiny, states are pulling ahead in the effort to legislate the use/misuse of AI. Data Privacy and Cybersecurity Law Firm, Husch Blackwell, has assembled and summarized most of the proposed bills. For more insights into the need for federal input, read their February analysis: https://www.huschblackwell.com/newsandinsights/will-federal-initiatives-stave-off-disparate-state-level-regulation-of-artificial-intelligence
Reproductive Rights
Oral arguments for the US Supreme Court case, Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA, begin on March 26, 2024. This case focuses on the drug Mifepristone (famously an abortion pill), and could dramatically limit access to reproductive healthcare in the United States.
Censorship
Book Bans have reached a record number across the country. The ALA’s March 14th report shares details of these censorship initiatives and legislation.
The social media platform TikTok has also come under seige. The House voted (352-65) in favor of a bill intended to force the sale of TikTok to the US, ostensibly to protect user data. However, as the US cannot force a sale from foreign entities, this will likely lead to a TikTok ban if the legislation is enacted. Opponents have raised questions of a lack of data regulation for US-owned companies, Congressional stock holdings in Meta and other TikTok rivals, censorship of news coverage of the Palestinian genocide, etc.
Illinois
It is a busy time of year for the Illinois legislature. See everything they are working on here.
A few items of interest:
SB 3511 – “Creates the Let America Read Act. Provides that an entity or an entity’s staff with oversight over the books, instructional materials, or curriculum used in a public school may not refuse to approve or prohibit the use of books, instructional materials, or a curriculum, including, but not limited to, memoirs, autobiographies, and biographies, based upon the depiction of matters of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, sexual and reproductive health, gender identity, religion, or human rights activism. Provides that these provisions do not restrict an entity with oversight over the books, instructional materials, or curriculum used in a public school from imposing limitations on the access to books, instructional materials, or a curriculum based upon the age and developmental level of the students who will have access. Amends the School Code to set forth a penalty for a school district that violates the Act.”
SB 3529 – “Amends the Pertussis Vaccine Act. Repeals provisions relating to creation of public pamphlets explaining the benefits and possible adverse reactions to immunizations for pertussis, providing the pamphlet and other information to parents or guardians of a newborn child, and immunity from liability relating to providing the pamphlet and other information to parents or guardians of a newborn child.”
SB 3563 – “Amends the Illinois Local Library Act. Provides that the bond of a library treasurer or custodian of the moneys paid over to a library board shall not be less than 10% (rather than 50%) of the total funds received by the library in the last fiscal year or the treasurer or custodian of the moneys paid over to a library board may provide insurance coverage for negligent and intentional acts by library officials and employees that could result in the loss of library funds in an amount at least equal to 10% (rather than 50%) of the average amount of the library’s operating fund from the prior 3 fiscal years. Makes similar changes in the Illinois Library System Act and the Public Library District Act of 1991 relating to treasurer bonds. Effective immediately.