wa-law.org > bill > 2025-26 > HB 1833 > Original Bill
The legislature recognizes that fostering technological innovation is essential for Washington state's economic growth and long-term competitiveness. By investing in emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, the state can access new sources of revenue, create high paying jobs, and position itself as a national leader in cutting-edge industries. Artificial intelligence-driven solutions have the potential to address critical statewide challenges, such as predicting and managing wildfires, improving the effectiveness of cybersecurity, and improving public health responses. Supporting the development of these technologies will not only strengthen Washington's economy, but also enhance public safety and government efficiency.
Therefore, the legislature intends to establish an innovation grant program to support organizations that create transformative new technologies. These grants will provide critical funding to startups, research institutions, and companies working on advancements with broad public benefits, ensuring that Washington remains at the forefront of technological progress. By encouraging innovation, this act will drive economic expansion, attract private investment, and equip the state with cutting-edge tools to address its most pressing challenges.
Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the department shall establish the spark act grant program to promote the economic development of innovative uses of artificial intelligence.
The department shall solicit input from the artificial intelligence task force, created in chapter 163, Laws of 2024, no less than once per year through 2027, to identify state priorities to form the basis of the grants. When the department evaluates applications, it shall prioritize:
An applicant that has committed to ethical uses of artificial intelligence;
An applicant that has analyzed the risks associated with its product;
Small businesses; and
Projects with statewide impact.
The department shall award grants on at least an annual basis.
The department shall pursue all available opportunities for federal funding and solicit private donations for the spark act grant program account created in section 4 of this act.
Eligible applicants shall apply for the grant program in a manner to be determined by the department. To be eligible, an applicant's proposal must include technology that will be shared with the state and provide a state benefit, such as wildfire tracking, cybersecurity, or health care advancements.
The department shall identify relevant federal grants related to the economic development of innovative uses of artificial intelligence in its inventory of grant opportunities required by RCW 43.330.260.
For the purposes of this section, "artificial intelligence" means the use of machine learning and related technologies that use data to train statistical models for the purpose of enabling computer systems to perform tasks normally associated with human intelligence or perception, such as computer vision, speech or natural language processing, and content generation.
The department may adopt rules to implement this section.
Beginning October 31, 2027, the department shall report on the spark act grant program established in section 2 of this act. The report must be updated every two years, posted on the department's website, and transmitted to the governor and the legislature in accordance with RCW 43.01.036.
The report must identify the: Priorities identified for the reporting period; number of applications received by the department; number and amount of grants awarded; types of projects supported by the grants; and source of revenues for the grants.
The spark act grant program account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. Revenues to the account consist of appropriation by the legislature, donated funds from private and public sources, federal funding, and all other sources deposited in the fund.
Expenditures from the account may be used only for the spark act grant program under section 2 of this act, including administrative expenses. Only the director of the department, or the director's designee, may authorize expenditures from the account. The account is subject to the allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW, but an appropriation is not required for expenditures.
(1) Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, a task force to assess current uses and trends and make recommendations to the legislature regarding guidelines and potential legislation for the use of artificial intelligence systems is established.
This act may be known and cited as the spark act.