SB 146 (Pending) Algorithmic Transparency in State Government

SB 146 directs the Florida Digital Service to inventory all AI systems used across state agencies, including eligibility determinations, risk assessments, law enforcement analytics, and administrative decision-making. Agencies must identify system purpose, data sources, vendors, and safeguards to ensure transparency and mitigate risks to due process.

Florida's approach reflects trends in other states. California requires public disclosure of automated decision systems, and Washington is pursuing legislation focused on algorithmic accountability and bias audits. Federal guidance from NIST and the Office of Management and Budget also recommends inventorying AI tools to enhance transparency and manage risk.

Law firms advising public sector clients note that SB 146 will require robust internal recordkeeping, audit procedures, and compliance reporting. Civil liberties organizations have emphasized transparency as a means to prevent discrimination or errors in automated decision-making, particularly in social services and law enforcement contexts.

For attorneys, SB 146 highlights the growing need to advise government clients on AI governance, procurement practices, and documentation requirements. If enacted, the law could establish Florida's first comprehensive framework for "AI Sunshine," shaping judicial and public expectations for accountability in automated decision-making.