(Center Square) – Virginia begins using artificial intelligence to scan and simplify national regulations signed by new executive order governor Glenn Youngkin.
Pilots deploy generic AI tools with agents to scan regulatory and guidance documents issued by government agencies and identify outdated, duplicated or overly complex requirements for removal or simplification. The administration's goal is to reduce the regulatory burden on businesses and citizens while keeping guidance documents accurate and up-to-date.
Clearly, Virginia uses AI to keep state regulations clear and up-to-date while reducing unnecessary regulations.
“We have made a lot of progress towards streamlined regulations and the regulatory process in the federal world,” Youngkin said in the announcement. “We will further drive this effort to continue our mission to unleash Virginia's economy in ways that benefit all citizens using emergency artificial intelligence tools.”
The agency has already surpassed the 25% regulatory reduction target set by Youngkin in 2022, reducing requirements by 26.8% and word counts in guidance documents by 47.9%.
These previous cuts save more than $1.2 billion in Virginians each year, primarily through reduced home construction costs and reduced compliance costs, according to the governor's office.
Under the executive order, agencies will incorporate AI into regular regulatory reviews that require state law. AI tools flag redundancy, inconsistent and overly complex languages, ensuring that regulations remain compliant with state and federal laws.
Agents must report any planned changes within four weeks. The Regulatory Control and Transformation Office oversees the pilot.
George Mason University's recent launch of the Patriottie platform shows how AI is already being used in Virginia's higher education system. Introduced in June, the platform offers university management AI tools for research support, document analysis, course design and student advice.
According to a press release, the Youngkin administration describes it as part of Virginia's broader approach to modernizing government, leaving regulations clear and manageable, and serving as a model for other states and federal agencies seeking to modernize and streamline government.
The executive order came into effect on July 11th.
