VIDEO | Rep. Joshua Penner: AI bill risks stifling Washington innovation (House Bill 1170)

February 17, 2026

Rep. Joshua Penner, R-Orting, speaks on the House floor to oppose House Bill 1170, a bill regarding AI content notices. While he agrees that conversations about regulating technology are vital—comparing the rise of AI to the early days of social media—he argues that this specific piece of legislation draws the line in the wrong place.

During his speech on final passage, Penner expresses frustration that several amendments he proposed earlier in the debate, which sought to address concerns about accessible devices and beta testing products, were not adopted.

He warns that the bill’s current structure is flawed and could unintentionally hinder the development of new technologies and existing products.

He closes with a stark economic warning, drawing a comparison between a “Detroit in decline” and a “Redmond in ascendancy” in the early 1980s. Penner cautions that over-regulation could drive innovators out of Washington to other states, threatening the economic policies that have historically made the state prosperous. He urges a no vote to prevent Washington from driving its tech industry away.