The Democrat majority in the Colorado Legislature ended its six-day special law term on Tuesday by throttling changes to domestic law that will regulate the state’s first law change next year.
Senate Bill 4 received final approval Tuesday by delaying the launch date of the AI Act from February to June 30th. Governor Jared Police is waiting for signature.
This delay gives lawmakers a final opportunity to fine-tune the law. It first passed in 2024 and returned to Capitol in January for a 120-day legislative meeting.
Police asked lawmakers to take up the AI Act when Congress gathered from Thursday for a special session aimed at setting up a $750 million hole in the state budget, caused primarily by the tax policy changes in one big beautiful bill law. It is a Republican federal tax and spending bill that was passed in July and signed into law by President Donald Trump.
When the AI Act was passed, it was too harsh and created a stir among high-tech companies over concerns that would curb technological advances. At the time, lawmakers, governors and the tech industry agreed to cooperate in making changes ahead of that.
However, attempts earlier this year during regular sessions in Congress failed — as were the final ditch efforts to postpone when the law comes into effect.
It appeared Sunday night that Congress would sign a deal with consumer advocates and the tech industry on how to move forward. However, by Monday morning the agreement had been unplugged.
On Monday afternoon, Sen. Robert Rodriguez, a Denver Democrat and architect of AI Act and Senate Bill 4, announced that he was kicking negotiations he gave in 2026.
“It’s become impossible to go on the path to working for everyone,” Rodriguez told the Senate.
It is unclear whether Congress can pave the path that will advance next year. The negotiations on AI law are approaching two years without a resolution.
The law requires companies to evaluate and disclose from regulators and consumers if AI is used for consequential decisions such as employment, loans, housing, etc., unless changed by Congress next year. Companies also require consumers who don’t like how AI has made decisions to explain how technology works.
The Colorado Attorney General’s office will implement laws that will fine up to $20,000 for each violation and will have local complaints.
A group of House and Senate Democrats voted “no” for Senate Bill 4 in opposition to the delay.
Rep. Brianna Titone, D-Arvada, originally had a common law bill with Rodriguez. However, after negotiations collapsed and measures were amended to delay the start date of the law, she pulled her name from the law and urged her colleagues to oppose it.
“Large tech companies don’t want to come to the table. They don’t want to compromise, they don’t want responsibility,” she said. “It wasn’t a starter. They don’t want to be held responsible.”
Other Democrats complained that Congress was being bullied by high-tech tech bro.
“When private companies wield so much power in people’s lives, are we really free when deciding who will be hired, who will receive health care, who will qualify for loans?” said Rep. Sheila Leader, Littleton Democrat.
However, it was not enough to ensure that measures were not passed.
The bill clears the House with a 48-14 vote, with all but two “NO” votes coming from Democrats. It passed the Senate by 29-3 votes. All “no” votes in the Senate came from Democrats.
Congress was then postponed until January until Tuesday afternoon.
Story type: News
Based on facts, they were either directly observed and verified by reporters or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
