Governor Pritzker signs executive order to establish the Illinois AI Cabinet to advise and prepare for emerging risks and protect Illinoisans
September 22, 2026
CHICAGO – Governor JB Pritzker today signed Executive Order 2026-07 establishing the Illinois Artificial Intelligence (AI) Cabinet, a group of individuals from across industries and fields that will assess the various risks posed by AI to the safety of Illinoisans. As AI continues to rapidly advance, the Illinois AI Cabinet will advise state government on preparing for and responding to AI-related incidents, identifying safeguards for public assets and infrastructure, and evaluating additional steps Illinois can take to strengthen AI safety and accountability. The Governor will seek input from state agency leaders and announce members of the cabinet in the coming weeks. The AI cabinet will include a broad cross-sector of experts from academia, law, ethics, governance and more.
“Artificial Intelligence has enormous potential to transform our everyday lives, but when experts and industry leaders sound the alarm bell, urge us to slow down, and ask for guardrails, we should listen,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Illinois has already enacted nation-leading laws that hold Big Tech accountable and today I’m taking executive action to keep this a priority. Congress and the White House need to treat AI risks with urgency, but in the meantime, Illinois won’t wait because it is our foremost responsibility to prepare and protect Illinoisians.”
"Governor Pritzker's formation of an AI Cabinet will bring together experts from several of our state agencies to assess the risks of artificial intelligence and regulating it accordingly," said Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton. "This is not a problem that can be kicked down the road and I'm proud that Illinois is prioritizing this issue. Together, we’ll find new ways to innovate while protecting our people at every turn."
“We are eager to help the state navigate the current challenges and opportunities that AI brings,” said University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Chancellor Charles Isbell. “As a land-grant institution, we are the committed to innovation for the public good and to developing human-centered AI that protects privacy, reduces bias, strengthens democratic institutions, uses energy wisely, and creates value for workers, companies and communities. We look forward to this partnership.”
The executive order comes in response to the lack of federal action amidst the resignation of yet another whistleblower within the AI industry. Governor Pritzker is again taking proactive steps after signing nation-leading AI regulations into law this summer, the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Safety Measures Act creates a framework placed for AI safety, accountability, and transparency. This framework implemented risk identification, disclosure, and mitigation requirements on the largest AI developers in the state, including making Illinois the first state to require annual independent third-party audits, and amongst the first to provide protections for workers who report safety concerns – an essential safeguard as safety concerns rise in the very development hubs where AI continues to evolve**.**
The Illinois AI Cabinet will focus on:
Cross‑** Sector Expertise & Strategic Guidance**
- Provide cross‑sector expertise to develop comprehensive recommendations on AI safety, risk management, and regulation.
- Make timely policy recommendations to Illinois state agencies and government bodies based on current information about AI risks and best practices.
Safety of Residents & Incident Preparedness
- Develop policies and procedures to prepare for, prevent, and respond to AI‑related incidents that may impact the safety of Illinois residents.
- Analyze emerging AI incidents and share lessons learned to strengthen statewide preparedness and response.
Protection of Public Assets & Infrastructure
- Create policies and procedures to safeguard public assets—including public buildings, water systems, education systems, and information infrastructure—from AI‑driven threats.
Feasibility & Policy Evaluation
- Assess the feasibility, timelines, and potential challenges associated with recommended AI policy measures.
- Evaluate the feasibility of potential state regulatory actions, including:
- Conditioning data‑center tax incentives, permits, or operational approvals on meeting safety, accountability, and transparency standards.
- Addressing the energy burden AI data centers place on the Illinois grid and ratepayers, including impacts through PJM Interconnection.
- Incorporating AI safety and accountability standards into state procurement and contracting processes.
- Assessing whether a strict‑liability framework for AI‑caused harm is an appropriate mechanism for holding AI companies accountable.
Read the full executive order here:
Executive Order 2026-07.pdf
PDF - 181 Kb
The AI Cabinet will bring together academic and subject-matter experts alongside senior leaders from the Department of Innovation and Technology (DoIT), the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA), the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC), the Illinois State Police (ISP), the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA), and the Illinois Department of Public Health, which are state agencies responsible for technology, emergency management, financial regulation, utilities, public safety, economic development, and environmental protection. Governor Pritzker will announce appointed members of the Cabinet in the coming weeks.
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