Connecticut SB 5
The broadest state AI statute enacted to date and the first to combine consumer, employment and frontier-safety duties in one act. It gives the US state landscape a third template alongside Colorado's duty-of-care model and Texas's intent-based prohibitions.
What it is
Connecticut's omnibus AI and online safety law, signed 27 May 2026 and applying from 1 October 2026. It sets disclosure duties for AI subscriptions and AI companions, rules for automated employment-related decisions, whistleblower protection for frontier-developer employees, and creates an Artificial Intelligence Policy Office and Policy Director.
Who is affected
Providers of consumer AI services, employers using automated decision processes, and frontier developers with Connecticut employees
Key obligations
- Written disclosure and acceptance of key terms before AI subscriptions are entered or renewed
- Duties for AI companions and for automated employment-related decision processes
- Whistleblower protections for frontier-developer employees; state AI Policy Office and Policy Director
Compliance dates
Connecticut SB 5 obligations start applying
Public Act 26-15 applies from this date: AI subscription disclosures, AI companion duties, automated employment-decision requirements and frontier-developer whistleblower protections.
Recent signals
California closes its session having sent a slate of AI bills to the Governor
The 2026 session ended on 31 August with sixteen AI bills passed, including SB 813 on independent safety verification. The Governor has until 30 September to sign or veto.
Colorado AI Act takes effect after delayed start
The first comprehensive US state AI law is now operative — as DOJ's AI Litigation Task Force weighs challenges under the December 2025 preemption executive order.
New York RAISE Act frontier-safety duties begin
New York joins California in requiring large frontier developers to publish safety protocols and report incidents.
US state AI law wave: Texas, California and Illinois statutes take effect
TRAIGA, SB 53 (frontier transparency), AB 2013 (training-data disclosure) and Illinois HB 3773 all become operative on the same day — the broadest single expansion of binding US AI law.
Related instruments
- US-STColorado AI ActThe first comprehensive US state AI law: developers and deployers of 'high-risk' AI systems in consequential decisions (employment…
- US-STTexas TRAIGATexas's AI law (effective 1 Jan 2026) takes an intent-based approach: it prohibits developing or deploying AI to unlawfully discri…
- US-STCalifornia SB 53The first US law regulating frontier AI developers specifically: large developers must publish frontier AI frameworks, report cata…
- US-STCalifornia AB 2013Requires developers of generative AI systems made available in California to publish documentation of training datasets — sources,…
- US-STCalifornia SB 942Requires large GenAI providers (over 1M monthly users) to offer free AI-detection tools and embed latent provenance disclosures in…