Skip to main content
Evergreen Ledger

2SHB 1833

In Committee

House

AI grant program

Creating an artificial intelligence grant program.

This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.

How does a bill become law?
  1. Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
  2. Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
  3. Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
  4. Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
  5. Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
  6. Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
Introduced: February 1, 2026
Last Action: March 12, 2026
Status: H Rules 3C
View Bill Text (HTML) (opens in new tab)View Bill Text (PDF) (opens in new tab)

AI Analysis

This analysis was generated by AI and may contain errors. It is not legal advice. Always refer to the official bill text for authoritative information.
People & CommunitiesPeople-leaningCorporate & Wealthy Interests

This bill creates the Spark Act Grant Program to fund artificial intelligence projects that deliver broad public benefits—such as wildfire prediction, cybersecurity, and health care improvements—by supporting startups, small businesses, and research institutions. It also strengthens the existing AI Task Force to advise on ethical AI use and state priorities.

  • Establishes the Spark Act Grant Program administered by the Washington State Department of Commerce to fund AI projects with statewide public benefits (e.g., wildfire tracking, cybersecurity, health care).
  • Grants prioritize applicants committed to ethical AI use, have conducted risk analyses, are small businesses, or have projects with statewide impact.
  • Requires the AI Task Force (established in 2024) to advise the Department of Commerce annually through 2027 on state priorities for grant funding.
  • Mandates that grant recipients share their technology with the state and demonstrate how it provides a state benefit.
  • Creates a Spark Act Grant Program Account in the state treasury, funded by legislative appropriations, private/public donations, and federal funds.
  • Requires the Department of Commerce to submit a biennial report starting October 31, 2027, detailing grant activity, funding sources, and project types.

Who is affected

  • Tech startups, small businesses, and research institutions — Startups, small businesses, and research institutions that develop artificial intelligence technologies with public benefits (e.g., wildfire tracking, cybersecurity, health care) can apply for funding to support development and deployment of those technologies.
  • State and local government agencies — State agencies and local governments may benefit from AI tools developed through the grants—such as improved emergency response or public health systems—and gain access to shared technology solutions.
  • Historically excluded or vulnerable communities — Members of historically excluded or vulnerable communities are represented on the AI task force and may benefit from safeguards against algorithmic bias and increased transparency in AI systems.
  • Private and public funders and federal partners — Private and public donors and federal partners may contribute funds or grants to support the program and collaborate on AI initiatives with state priorities.
Effective: July 25, 2025Fiscal impact: The bill creates a dedicated account for the grant program, funded by legislative appropriations, private and federal donations, and other sources. Administrative costs and grants are authorized without requiring a new appropriation each year, but ongoing funding depends on future legislative action.
Model: Intel/Qwen3-Coder-Next-int4-AutoRoundGenerated: Mar 19, 2026 at 7:21 PM

Pro/Con Analysis

Stronger case for benefits

Potential Benefits (5)

  • Mandates that applicants conduct risk analyses and commit to ethical AI use—combined with the task force’s focus on algorithmic discrimination and transparency—will reduce the risk that AI tools deployed in emergency response, health care, or law enforcement reinforce bias or cause harm, directly protecting vulnerable communities.

    Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 2(2)(a)-(b) & Sec. 5(4)(h)-(j)

  • Funding for AI projects with statewide impact—especially wildfire prediction, cybersecurity, and health care—can directly improve public safety outcomes across Washington, including in rural and underserved areas that lack private-sector tech investment.

    Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 2(2)(d) & Sec. 2(5)

  • The program’s focus on supporting startups, small businesses, and research institutions—along with compensation for low-income task force members—can foster inclusive innovation ecosystems and create high-paying tech jobs while ensuring marginalized voices shape AI governance.

    Business & EmploymentPeopleRef: Sec. 5(4)(e) & Sec. 5(7)

  • The task force’s mandate to recommend civil liberties and civil rights protections—including accountability, auditability, and enforcement mechanisms for AI systems—lays groundwork for future legislation that could prevent harmful algorithmic discrimination in housing, employment, and criminal justice.

    Rights & LibertiesPeopleRef: Sec. 5(4)(o)(v) & Sec. 5(4)(p)

  • By requiring AI health care projects to be shared with the state and reported biennially, the program enables scalable, cost-effective public health interventions—such as predictive disease modeling or mental health triage tools—that could improve access and outcomes for low-income and rural residents.

    HealthcarePeopleRef: Sec. 2(5) & Sec. 3(2)(d)
Potential Concerns (5)

  • Grant prioritization for 'small businesses' may disproportionately benefit startups and early-stage ventures with venture capital backing or university affiliations, rather than traditional small businesses (e.g., local service shops), because the program requires technical capacity to conduct risk analyses and develop deployable AI systems—skills concentrated among tech-savvy entrepreneurs and academic labs, not typical small business owners.

    Business & EmploymentPeopleRef: Sec. 2(2)(c)

  • While the bill creates a state-level grant program, it does not require or incentivize local governments to adopt or integrate the AI tools developed—leaving implementation optional and dependent on local capacity and political will, potentially limiting public benefit in underserved rural or low-resource jurisdictions.

    Local GovernmentLean peopleRef: Sec. 2(5) & Sec. 4(2)

  • Grant prioritization for 'projects with statewide impact' may lead to concentration of funds in urban or high-population areas (e.g., Seattle metro), where data infrastructure and technical capacity exist, while rural communities with high wildfire or flood risk may be overlooked despite greater need.

    Public SafetyLean peopleRef: Sec. 2(2)(d)

  • The requirement that grant recipients 'share technology with the state' is vague and lacks enforceability mechanisms—no requirement for open-source release, interoperability standards, or public auditability—so the state may receive proprietary tools with limited transparency or community oversight.

    Public SafetyLean peopleRef: Sec. 2(5)

  • The Spark Act Grant Program Account is funded by legislative appropriations, private/public donations, and federal funds—but not dedicated state revenue—making the program vulnerable to budget cuts during economic downturns, potentially disrupting long-term AI projects and creating uncertainty for grantees.

    FinancialRef: Sec. 4

Who Is Most Affected

Tech startups and university-affiliated AI labsMixed Impact

Tech startups and university-affiliated AI labs are primary applicants and likely beneficiaries of grant funding; they gain resources to develop and deploy tools, but must meet ethical and technical standards that may increase compliance costs for under-resourced teams.

Rural and low-income communitiesPositive Impact

Rural and low-income communities stand to benefit from AI tools in wildfire prediction, health care, and emergency response—but may be excluded if projects prioritize urban centers or require infrastructure they lack (e.g., broadband).

State and local government agenciesMixed Impact

State agencies (e.g., DNR, DOH) gain access to new AI tools at no direct cost, but must integrate them into existing systems—requiring staff time and technical capacity that many agencies lack, potentially limiting real-world impact.

Historically excluded or vulnerable communitiesPositive Impact

Historically excluded communities benefit from mandatory representation on the task force and anti-bias mandates, but their influence depends on whether recommendations translate into enforceable policy—not guaranteed by this bill.

Private and public funders and federal partnersMixed Impact

Private funders and federal partners may leverage state funding to co-invest in AI projects aligned with their own priorities, increasing their influence over Washington’s AI agenda without bearing full financial risk.