SALEM, Ore. (Sep. 26, 2026) — Gov. Tina Kotek has issued an executive order directing Oregon to develop new safety and oversight standards for the state government’s procurement and use of advanced artificial intelligence models.
Kotek signed Executive Order 26-26, titled “Establishing Responsible Artificial Intelligence Procurement Standards for State Government,” on Sept. 23. The order takes effect immediately and is intended to build on existing statewide requirements governing responsible AI use by Oregon’s executive branch.
The order directs Oregon’s state chief information officer to develop standards or criteria for determining whether adequate third-party reviews of AI safety have been conducted. It also calls for the state to assess the feasibility of requiring a “kill switch” for frontier AI models — highly advanced systems capable of performing increasingly complex tasks.
“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’s order comes amid a broader national debate over the pace of AI development and how governments should address potential risks associated with increasingly capable systems.
The governor said concerns about AI safety have also been raised by leaders within the technology industry and argued that states should not rely solely on voluntary measures by private companies.
“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.
Under the executive order, the state chief information officer must develop and submit an implementation proposal to the governor within 90 days.
The order also requires the governor to reassess the need for the executive order every three months. It will remain in effect until Kotek terminates it.
Oregon already has a statewide Responsible AI Usage Policy covering generative and agentic AI systems used by executive branch agencies, boards and commissions. The policy establishes requirements involving risk management, human accountability, transparency, oversight and protection of sensitive information.
The state has been developing its AI governance framework since Kotek issued Executive Order 23-26 in 2023, which established the State Government Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council. The council delivered its final recommended action plan to the governor in February 2025.
The new order focuses specifically on procurement and use of frontier AI models by state government and directs Oregon to consider additional safeguards as the technology continues to develop.
“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,” Kotek said.
Discover more from Medford Alert News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
