Illinois passes first U.S. law requiring AI safety audits
The Illinois House passed SB 315 on Wednesday, a bill that would require independent third-party audits of leading AI companies' safety practices. The Senate approved it 52-5 on Thursday. Gov. JB Pritzker indicated he would sign the measure.
The bill sets a new regulatory standard. California and New York require frontier AI companies like OpenAI and Anthropic to publish plans addressing severe or catastrophic risks from their models. Illinois goes further by mandating annual independent audits-a first for any state.
What the bill requires
SB 315 would compel leading AI companies to:
- Create and annually update public safety plans addressing catastrophic risks
- Undergo independent third-party audits on safety issues each year
- Establish whistleblower protections and reporting processes for employees
- Face civil penalties for violations
The bill takes effect Jan. 1 if signed.
Industry response splits
OpenAI and Anthropic publicly backed the legislation. OpenAI's statement emphasized that "clear expectations around safety, transparency, incident reporting, and accountability matter" as AI systems become more capable.
A trade organization representing other AI companies opposed it. Google, Meta, and xAI did not comment.
Rep. Daniel Didech, the House sponsor, told reporters the bill creates "guardrails" against worst-case risks. "The flip side" of powerful AI tools is that "there's also some potential risk," he said.
Federal regulation stalled
Didech acknowledged the ideal approach would be federal legislation. "The reality is that Congress has not taken up this issue yet, and the technology is developing at such a rapid pace that states have had no choice but to step in," he said.
The White House has opposed similar provisions, arguing they could burden companies with conflicting state rules and hamper America's AI competitiveness.
The bill's passage came days after President Trump declined to sign a planned executive order establishing a voluntary safety testing framework for advanced AI models.
What this means for legal professionals
The law creates compliance obligations that will affect how companies operate. Legal teams will need to understand audit requirements, whistleblower protections, and liability exposure. For those working in tech regulation or corporate compliance, AI for Legal resources address how AI systems themselves are regulated and how legal practice adapts to AI governance.
Paralegals managing compliance workflows may find AI Learning Path for Paralegals relevant as regulatory frameworks evolve.
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