TLDR: Adams County is actively developing its artificial intelligence policy, with staff working to finalize language for potential adoption in January. Recent discussions among county commissioners focused on critical aspects of AI liability, particularly concerning discriminatory outcomes and the allocation of responsibility between developers and the county. The county’s draft policy emphasizes human oversight, complementing rather than replacing human decision-making, and preventing discrimination.
Adams County is moving forward with the development of a comprehensive artificial intelligence (AI) policy, with county staff diligently working to finalize the language for potential adoption in January. This initiative comes as the county navigates the complexities of emerging AI legislation at the state level, particularly concerning liability and ethical deployment.
During a recent briefing, Adams County commissioners engaged in detailed discussions regarding the implications of competing AI liability bills introduced during a Colorado special legislative session. A central point of concern was how liability would be assigned if AI-driven systems were to produce discriminatory outcomes.
County staff presented an overview of two primary legislative drafts. One bill, sponsored by Senator Robert Rodriguez, proposes splitting liability between the AI developer and the county. Another draft, referred to as the Lindset/Linstev draft, would mandate developers to indemnify the county but would still preclude the county from using AI deployment as a defense in cases of discrimination. A key commonality in both proposed bills is the stipulation that if AI systems lead to discrimination against a protected class, the county cannot cite the use of AI as a defense.
Commissioners raised practical concerns, including the potential costs associated with obtaining indemnification and the challenges of ensuring county operational control if elected offices or autonomous departments independently adopt AI technologies. As one commissioner noted, the decision boils down to whether the county prefers to split damages 50-50 or bear the cost of indemnifying itself.
In parallel with monitoring state legislation, Adams County staff are developing internal safeguards. A draft AI policy, which was anticipated to be presented in September, outlines several guiding principles. These include the use of AI to complement, rather than replace, human decision-making, the implementation of robust oversight mechanisms to prevent discrimination, and the unwavering commitment to human final decision authority.
Jillian Allen, an Adams County staff member, informed commissioners that four AI bills had been introduced, and county attorneys are currently reviewing their fiscal notes and text to assess potential risks to the county. Staff have prepared a comparison chart of these bills and will continue to monitor committee actions and amendments, keeping the county attorney team involved. They are tasked with alerting commissioners if any legislative changes significantly worsen the county’s exposure.
While no formal motions or votes were taken during the briefing, the discussions underscored the county’s proactive approach to integrating AI responsibly while mitigating potential legal and ethical challenges. The county’s Information Technology and Innovation Department has also outlined its 2026 goals, which include developing an AI and data governance framework as a key strategic initiative, further solidifying Adams County’s commitment to thoughtful AI integration.
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Staff will continue to provide updates as the special session progresses and will furnish a written comparison of the AI bills and any significant amendments, ensuring commissioners are well-informed to engage if local government exposure materially increases.
