SB 5 / Public Act 26-15 — An Act Concerning Online Safety (Connecticut AI provisions, including automated employment-related decision technology)

Summary

Comprehensive AI statute covering automated employment decision technology, AI companions, frontier model developers, synthetic media provenance, and youth online safety. AEDT is defined as technology generating predictions or recommendations that are a substantial factor in, or materially influence, an employment-related decision. Deployers must give plain-language notice of AEDT use and a written pre-decision notice stating the purpose and decision type, the trade name, and the categories and sources of personal data analyzed and how it will be assessed. Use of an AEDT is expressly not a defense in an employment discrimination claim, and courts may consider the quality and scope of anti-bias testing. Chatbots used for technical support, patient care, education or financial services are exempt from the AI companion provisions where not marketed as companions. Two of the act's original sections were repealed before taking effect: Public Act 26-100 (HB 5222, approved June 2, 2026) repealed section 1 (fee and notice rules for AI technology subscriptions) and section 33 (a Department of Consumer Protection pilot program for independent verification of AI models) and enacted revised versions as its own sections 46 and 47. The revised subscription rules (effective October 1, 2026) cover generative AI systems with more than one million monthly users that are publicly accessible to consumers; the revised pilot program takes effect October 1, 2027, and ends March 31, 2031, instead of June 30, 2030.

Key dates

1. 2026-10-01 (staged; see Timeline Notes)Takes effect
2. May 27, 2026Enacted
3. October 16, 2026Checked against sources
4. October 18, 2026Checked against sources
5. October 21, 2026Checked against sources

Developments are added when the record is reviewed. Next review: January 17, 2027.

Evidence

Each passage is quoted from its source. The quoted passages are re-checked against the live pages every month.

1. Substitute Senate Bill No. 5 Public Act No. 26-15 AN ACT CONCERNING ONLINE SAFETY.

   Supports: Bill number, public act number and official title

   Governor's Action: Approved May 27, 2026

   Supports: Date of the Governor's approval

   related decision technology shall not be a defense against a complaint. The commission or court may consider evidence of anti-bias testing or similar proactive efforts to avoid such discriminatory practice

   Supports: AEDT use is no defense; anti-bias testing may be considered

   a deployer who, on or after October 1, 2027, deploys one or more automated employment-related decision technologies that are intended to interact with an employee or applicant for employment in the state shall ensure that it is disclosed

   Supports: AEDT disclosure duty from October 1, 2027

   unfair or deceptive trade practice for the purposes of subsection (a) of section 42-110b of the general statutes and shall be enforced solely by the Attorney General.

   Supports: Enforcement by the Attorney General under CUTPA

   Section 1. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2026) (a) As used in this section: (1) "Artificial intelligence technology" means any computer system

   Supports: Original section 1 (AI technology subscriptions)

   The pilot program shall terminate on June 30, 2030.

   Supports: Original section 33 pilot end date

   Public Act No. 26-15 (Substitute Senate Bill No. 5) Connecticut General Assembly Primary source

2. Sections 1 and 33 of public act 26-15 are repealed.

   Supports: Repeal of PA 26-15 sections 1 and 33 (PA 26-100 section 67)

   Approved June 2, 2026

   Supports: Approval date of PA 26-100

   Sec. 46. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2026) (a) As used in this section: (1) "Consumer" has the same meaning as provided in section 42-515 of the general statutes

   Supports: Replacement subscription section and its effective date

   means a person doing business in the state who (i) creates, codes or otherwise produces a generative artificial intelligence system that (I) has more than one million

   Supports: Revised scope: generative AI systems over one million users

   Sec. 47. (Effective October 1, 2027) (a) As used in this section

   Supports: Replacement pilot program section and its effective date

   The pilot program shall terminate on March 31, 2031.

   Supports: Revised pilot end date

   users per month, and (II) is publicly accessible to consumers for personal use

   Supports: Revised scope: publicly accessible for personal use

   Public Act No. 26-100 (Substitute House Bill No. 5222) Connecticut General Assembly Primary source