Gov. Tina Kotek orders new AI safety standards for Oregon state agencies

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Gov. Tina Kotek issued Executive Order 26-26 today to establish new artificial intelligence procurement and safety standards for Oregon's executive branch.

The order aims to create safeguards and oversight for frontier AI models used by state government amid a lack of action at the federal level.

The executive order directs Oregon's State Chief Information Officer to create criteria for third-party AI safety reviews and assess the viability of a kill switch requirement for frontier AI models. The action builds on existing statewide rules requiring risk management, human accountability, transparency and oversight across executive agencies.

The order comes as technology executives raise concerns regarding the rapid advancement of frontier AI models, citing risks to cybersecurity infrastructure and potential containment issues. Despite calls from industry leaders to slow development, federal leadership under President Donald Trump has resisted establishing mandatory regulatory safeguards.

Gov. Kotek emphasized that states must take independent action to protect local communities in the absence of federal regulations.

“While oversight and regulation would be strongest and most effective at the federal level, President Trump continues to dismiss the need for even the most basic guardrails,” Kotek said. “States, in the meantime, must act with more urgency and do everything possible to manage how AI is impacting our communities.”

Kotek acknowledged recent voluntary proposals from technology companies but noted that public oversight remains necessary until formal legislation is enacted.

“It's encouraging to hear AI companies are beginning to come forward with proposals to address safety concerns, but we cannot simply wait for the private sector to self-regulate a technology that poses such an existential and evolving risk,” Kotek said.

“We must act with urgency to address this issue and I am committed to doing everything in my executive authority to put safeguards in place until the Oregon Legislature and Congress can pass comprehensive standards for AI companies that wish to bring their products to market here.”

Executive Order 26-26 takes effect immediately and will remain active until terminated by the governor. The State Chief Information Officer is required to submit an implementation proposal to Kotek within 90 days and the governor will reassess the necessity of the order every three months.