Colorado nears deal to amend AI law
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A long-stalled deal to rewrite the state's far-reaching artificial intelligence regulations appears suddenly within reach.
Why it matters: Colorado's first-in-the-nation AI regulations set the standard, but disagreements over liability and scope forced advocates back to the table to draft a last-minute overhaul before the session ends in May.
State of play: A task force convened by Gov. Jared Polis released draft legislation Tuesday to amend the 2024 law, and it's drawing initial support from Sen. Robert Rodriguez, who introduced the original bill.
- In an interview Wednesday, Rodriguez (D-Denver) told Axios Denver he sees areas that need tweaks, but he's reassured the task force kept important provisions about transparency and discrimination.
- "They kept the framework and are attempting to keep the important parts of the policy," he added. "I appreciate that they're not throwing the baby out with the bath water."
Catch up quick: The current law — poised to take effect in June — required extensive disclosures from companies using AI and the technology developers. It also put limits on AI's application in contexts that could lead to discrimination, such as health care, housing or hiring.
- Polis signed the legislation in 2024 but signaled the need to rewrite it after the technology and venture capital communities said it threatened innovation and jobs.
- Two attempts to amend the legislation in 2025 failed, prompting Polis to form the task force last fall.
Zoom in: The draft legislation excludes common AI programs, such as spellcheck or large language models like ChatGPT, and it narrows the areas covered by the law to exempt "low-stakes or routine decisions."
- The measure would still prohibit discrimination when AI models are used for education, employment, housing, financial matters, insurance, health care services and essential government services.
What he's saying: In a statement, Polis said the latest proposal strikes a balance to "protect consumers and support innovation."
What's next: Rodriguez said he needs to vet the draft but said he's willing to sponsor the bill for introduction.