Colorado Attorney General Delays Enforcing AI Law Following xAI Lawsuit

May 1, 2026

Colorado Attorney General Philip Weiser agreed to delay enforcement of the state's groundbreaking 2024 AI law after xAI filed a lawsuit in early April 2025, with xAI, the Department of Justice, and state officials filing a joint motion to pause the case. The law, originally scheduled for February 2025 but delayed until June 30, 2025, was the first state law to broadly regulate high-risk AI systems in hiring, lending, housing, insurance, and government services. Tech companies criticized the law as costly and harmful to innovation, prompting Governor Jared Polis to convene a special session and establish a working group that delivered a revised policy framework in March 2026. Weiser now plans to delay rulemaking until after Colorado's legislative session ends in mid-May 2026, reflecting broader national tensions between state-level AI regulations and federal calls for a unified framework.

Legal Challenge and Enforcement Delay of Colorado's AI Law

▪xAI filed a lawsuit against Colorado in early April 2025 seeking to stop enforcement of Colorado's 2024 AI law.
▪Colorado Attorney General Philip Weiser indicated he will not enforce Colorado's artificial intelligence law when it goes into effect in summer 2025.
▪Colorado Attorney General Philip Weiser does not intend to promulgate rules implementing Colorado Senate Bill 24-205 until the 2026 Colorado General Assembly legislative session concludes.
▪Colorado Attorney General Philip Weiser does not intend to enforce Colorado Senate Bill 24-205 until after the rulemaking process has concluded.

Evolution and Criticism of the Colorado AI Act

▪Colorado Governor Jared Polis supported postponing the enforcement date of Colorado's AI law when he convened the state's legislature for a special session in August 2025.
▪Tech companies have criticized Colorado's 2024 AI law for its predicted impacts to innovation and costliness.
▪Colorado's 2024 AI law is scheduled to take effect on June 30, 2025.
▪Colorado lawmakers voted to delay enforcement of Colorado's AI law until June 2025 to allow time for revisions.
▪Colorado's 2024 AI law regulates high-risk AI systems used in hiring, lending, housing, insurance, and government services.
▪The working group established by Colorado Governor Jared Polis delivered a new draft policy framework in March 2026.
▪Colorado's 2024 AI law was originally scheduled to go into effect in February 2025.
▪Colorado state legislators have not introduced a bill to amend the Colorado AI Act based on the policy recommendations as of April 2026.
▪Colorado's 2024 AI law was the first state law of its kind to broadly regulate high-risk AI systems.