Connecticut Passes AI Regulations After Years of Development

Connecticut's House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 5 by a 131-17 vote on Friday, establishing comprehensive AI regulations after years of contentious debate. The legislation, which previously passed the Senate 32-4, represents a compromise between Senator James Maroney and Governor Ned Lamont, who vetoed a 2024 version over concerns about hampering business innovation. The bill covers employment decision-making, state agency AI use, youth social media protections, AI workforce development programs, and a regulatory sandbox for testing new technologies. Connecticut joins a growing number of states adopting AI oversight despite Trump administration efforts to discourage state-level regulation in favor of federal policy. Governor Lamont plans to sign the rebranded Connecticut Artificial Intelligence Responsibility and Transparency Act into law.

Legislative passage and bipartisan support for AI regulation

• ▪Senate Bill 5 passed the Connecticut Senate with a 32-4 majority.
• ▪Connecticut legislators discussed Senate Bill 5 over the course of three hours on Friday afternoon.
• ▪The Connecticut House of Representatives gave final passage to Senate Bill 5 on Friday.
• ▪Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont plans to sign Senate Bill 5.
• ▪The Connecticut House voted 131-17 in favor of Senate Bill 5.
• ▪Senate Bill 5 had bipartisan support in both the Connecticut House and Senate.
• ▪Several members of the Connecticut House Republican caucus rose to support Senate Bill 5.

Evolution from previous failed attempts to final compromise

• ▪Connecticut Attorney General William Tong threw his support behind concepts outlined in Senate Bill 5 and Senate Bill 4.
• ▪The Connecticut House declined to vote on AI regulations in 2024.
• ▪Connecticut's 2024 effort to pass AI regulation cleared the Senate but fell apart after a veto threat from Governor Ned Lamont.
• ▪Senator James Maroney held a joint press conference with Connecticut Attorney General William Tong in the first days of the 2025 legislative session.
• ▪A deal between Governor Ned Lamont and Senator James Maroney enabled Senate Bill 5 to advance to the governor's desk.
• ▪Senate Bill 5 was amended to include parts from Senate Bill 86 and House Bill 5037.

Scope and provisions of the AI legislation

• ▪Senate Bill 4 is a companion bill to Senate Bill 5 that addresses consumer data privacy protections.
• ▪Senate Bill 5 was rebranded as the Connecticut Artificial Intelligence Responsibility and Transparency Act on Friday.

Debate over state regulation versus federal action and innovation concerns

• ▪Connecticut Representative Roland Lemar stated Senate Bill 5 is about protecting people without stopping innovation.
• ▪Connecticut would join a growing number of states that has moved to adopt AI regulations once Governor Ned Lamont signs Senate Bill 5.
• ▪Connecticut Representative David Rutigliano stated Senate Bill 5 is not overbearing and not stifling innovation or economic development.

Perspective of Governor Ned Lamont

• ▪Governor Ned Lamont threatened to veto Connecticut's 2024 AI regulation effort because he believed it was too restrictive.

Perspective of Connecticut Attorney General William Tong

• ▪Connecticut Attorney General William Tong publicly endorsed Senate Bill 5 and Senate Bill 4 at the start of the 2025 legislative session.

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