Primary Department: Universal Services
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Sindhu Menon, Executive Director & CIO
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Secondary Department Head/Elected Official:
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Policy
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Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
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Request for discussion and possible action regarding the Harris County Artificial Intelligence Responsible Use Policy.
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Background and Discussion:
On January 8, 2026, Commissioners Court directed Universal Services to comply with any established and emerging compliance by developing a countywide comprehensive Artificial Intelligence (AI) policy that ensures alignment with enterprise architecture, cybersecurity, data privacy, and responsible use principles.
Harris County's strategy for artificial intelligence (AI) modernization centers on Harris County Universal Services’ (HCUS) capability to deliver secure, scalable AI solutions throughout Harris County while maintaining AI compliance requirements, including state requirements such as Texas Senate Bill 1964 <https://legiscan.com/TX/bill/SB1964/2025> (89 R) and House Bill 3512 <https://legiscan.com/TX/bill/HB3512/2025> (89 R). As the centralized technology solutions center for Harris County departments and entities, HCUS is well positioned to manage the governance and coordination of AI integration throughout the County through cross-departmental collaboration and implementation.
The policy replaces the Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) policy approved by the Court on November 12, 2024, by outlining the necessary safeguards and key elements to ensure that AI usage aligns with County security and privacy objectives and standard practices and reduces pertinent security risks.
Expected Impact:
The expected impact of the policy is a countywide Artificial Intelligence (AI) Responsible Use Policy that uses AI technology responsibly and ethically to improve processes, enhance services to County residents, and support employee AI capacity when working on Harris County programs and services. If passed, HCUS recommends a maximum six-month implementation period to March 2027, to allow adequate time for departments to receive the necessary awareness, training, and guidance to ensure implementation, operational effectiveness, and compliance.
Alternative Options:
Maintain the current approach without adopting a modern, comprehensive AI Policy to reflect the evolving AI technology compliance landscape. Not adopting the updated countywide AI Policy will limit Universal Services’ ability to oversee the governance and implementation of AI technologies adopted by Harris County departments and hinder alignment with enterprise architecture, cybersecurity, data privacy, and responsible use principles across the County.
County Strategic Plan Goal: 2. Connect our community with safe, reliable, equitably distributed, and well-maintained infrastructure.
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Additional notes related to the Strategic Plan:
Prior Court Action (if any):
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Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
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10/31/2022 |
367 |
Transmittal by Universal Services of the Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) Guidelines to provide direction to Harris County officials and employees for responsible AI usage. |
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11/12/2024 |
129 |
Request for discussion and possible action of the Harris County Artificial Intelligence Responsible Use Policy. |
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9/9/2025 |
8 |
To direct the Office of County Engineer to report back to Commissioners Court by November 13, 2025, with a plan for using artificial intelligence and other software improvements to make the permitting process faster, more accurate, and easier for the public to use. |
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11/13/2025 |
12 |
Request for discussion and action of a plan to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other software improvements to make the permitting process faster, more accurate, and easier for the public to use. |
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12/11/2025 |
154 |
To direct Universal Services to establish governance on the standards, analysis, deployment, management, and training of all AI software and tools across departments within the County’s network to ensure security compliance with all federal and state laws, and County’s policies. |
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1/8/2026 |
344 |
To direct Universal Services to be in compliance with House Bill 149 by developing a countywide AI Program that includes a detailed resource plan and AI strategy based on requests from all departments; and to direct Universal Services to work with OCA and OMB to return to Commissioners Court on February 26, 2026 with the fiscal note for the effort. In response to the motions approved on 12/11/2025 related to the Technology Procurement (TPR) and Artificial Intelligence governance, direct Harris County Universal Services to work in coordination with all County departments, to lead and facilitate interdepartmental collaboration to identify, evaluate, and implement AI solutions that may materially impact County operations, services, residents, or regulatory functions. The scope includes any solution, service, application, system, or platform that utilizes AI technologies, whether or not it is directly solicited or supported by a County department. Further, no County department shall independently procure, pilot, or deploy AI systems or tools that may have enterprise-wide, operational, legal, cybersecurity, or public-facing impacts without coordination with Universal Services and completion of required County review and governance processes. Universal Services shall serve as the coordinating authority to develop a comprehensive AI policy that ensures alignment with enterprise architecture, cybersecurity, data privacy, and responsible use principles, and shall report back to Commissioners Court by March 19, 2026. |
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3/19/2026 |
101 |
Request for approval of supplemental funding in the amount of $425,000 (FY26) for prorated contractor resource funding to establish compliance, governance, and implementation of Generative AI solutions for Harris County departments. |
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3/19/2026 |
105 |
Request for approval of a Preliminary Investment Memo for the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Program, for an initial amount of $1,650,000, and request for approval of initial commercial paper funding in the amount of $845,000. |
Location:
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Precinct(s): Countywide
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Anticipated Court Date: 10/15/2026
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): Click or tap to enter a date.
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or ARPA related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: Sindhu Menon, Executive Director & County CIO
Attachments (if applicable): Harris County Artificial Intelligence Responsible Use Policy-FINAL (PDF)