Senator Honig Votes to Protect Workers and Families as AI Reshapes the Economy

Posted on April 21, 2026 by sdozapier@senatedems.ct.gov

Senator Honig Votes to Protect Workers and Families as AI Reshapes the Economy

HARTFORD – Senator Paul Honig (D-Harwinton) today voted in favor of Senate Bill 5, legislation that protects Connecticut residents from AI harms through safeguards around AI chatbots and employment discrimination, while investing in workforce programs to prepare residents for an AI-driven economy.

“Connecticut residents are already interacting with AI tools at work, at school, and at home, and the rules governing those interactions have not kept pace with how quickly the technology has spread. This bill addresses two concrete problems: it requires employers to be transparent when AI is shaping hiring and promotion decisions, and it ensures that when someone turns to a chatbot in a moment of crisis, they get directed to real help. AI can be a genuine asset for workers and businesses in Northwest Connecticut, and I’m glad we’re building the guardrails and the skills programs at the same time.”

Protection for Residents

The bill requires AI chatbot operators to make reasonable efforts to detect suicidal ideation or self-harm expressed by users and to respond with appropriate resources. It also requires employers to notify workers when AI is being used to make hiring and employment decisions, and prohibits employers from using AI tools that result in discriminatory outcomes.

These protections are especially urgent given how rapidly AI chatbots are being deployed without adequate safeguards. More than 70% of teenagers use AI companions, with about 50% doing so regularly, and there have been documented cases of chatbots encouraging and assisting minor users in attempting or completing suicide rather than directing them to mental health resources. Adults have been harmed as well. In Greenwich, a man killed his elderly mother and himself after an AI chatbot repeatedly validated his delusions and never directed him to mental health resources.

Empowering Connecticut’s Workforce

The bill also includes training and resources for nonprofits and small businesses to increase AI literacy, helping them apply efficiencies and compete in a quickly changing economy. Partnerships with the Department of Housing, the Labor Department, and the Secretary of State will connect residents to an AI Academy, equipping them with essential skills for a modern workplace. The bill also establishes an AI sandbox program to foster responsible innovation under appropriate regulatory oversight.

The bill now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration prior to the legislative session’s May 6 deadline.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Hugh McQuaid | hugh.mcquaid@cga.ct.gov

Senator Maher Joins Passage of Bill to Protect Residents from AI Harms, Boost Workforce AI Readiness

Posted on April 21, 2026 by sdozapier@senatedems.ct.gov

Senator Maher Joins Passage of Bill to Protect Residents from AI Harms, Boost Workforce AI Readiness

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, April 21, 2026

Today, State Senator Ceci Maher (D-Wilton) voted with the Senate to advance critical protections for Connecticut residents in the digital age. Senate Bill 5, “An Act Concerning Online Safety,” addresses emerging harms from artificial intelligence, establishes workforce development programs, and positions Connecticut as a national leader in responsible AI policy.

“With AI’s growth in daily life, we need to make sure we’re taking the proper steps to limit potential harms and emphasize potential advantages,” said Sen. Maher. “We need to protect our youngest residents from chatbots, which can be harmful, and limit AI-based discrimination. At the same time, we know AI isn’t going away any time soon – prepping our workforce to meet its challenges of the future through AI training is an important step to support the economy of the future. I’m grateful this thorough, measured legislation is taking a serious look into this surging technology.”

Senate Bill 5 advances critical AI legislation to protect Connecticut residents from emerging digital harms. It will require AI chatbot operators to make reasonable efforts to detect suicidal ideations or indicators of self-harm expressed by users and have a protocol to respond with appropriate resources.

More than 70% of teenagers use AI companions, with about 50% using them on a regular basis. There have been numerous cases in the U.S. of teenagers who have disclosed suicidality to AI chatbots who not only did not offer mental health resources but even encouraged and assisted minor users in attempting or committing suicide.

Other crucial protections include employment disclosures and discrimination. Employees will be notified if AI is being used to make hiring and employment decisions, as these decisions greatly impact their careers and lives. Also, employers would not be able to use the deployment of AI decision technology for discriminatory employment decisions. If employers are prohibited from discriminating against employees, they should not be utilizing tools that have the same ultimate impact.

Various programs and partnerships in this bill will ensure that residents are educated on technical skills so that our state is home to a robust AI talent network and working people are not left behind as our world quickly modernizes.

Partnerships with the Department of Housing, Labor Department, and the Secretary of State will help connect Connecticut residents to the AI Academy, which will equip them with essential AI knowledge and skills to prosper in a modern workplace.

The responsible use of AI also offers potential to enhance the efficiency of government and serve constituents. Equipping Connecticut’s workforce with the skills and knowledge to utilize AI effectively is essential for realizing the full potential of this technology and ensuring a smooth and equitable transition into an AI economy.

Senator Miller Backs AI Safety Bill to Protect Families, Prepare Workers for a Changing Economy

Posted on April 21, 2026 by sdozapier@senatedems.ct.gov

Senator Miller Backs AI Safety Bill to Protect Families, Prepare Workers for a Changing Economy

HARTFORD – Senator Pat Billie Miller (D-Stamford) today voted in favor of Senate Bill 5, legislation that protects Connecticut residents from AI harms through safeguards around AI chatbots and employment discrimination, while investing in workforce programs to prepare residents for an AI-driven economy.

“Stamford is home to a thriving financial sector and a workforce that increasingly relies on digital tools, which means the risks and opportunities of artificial intelligence are not abstract here. They are immediate.” Senator Miller said. “This bill puts guardrails around chatbot technology that has already caused documented harm to real families, and it requires employers to be transparent when AI is influencing decisions about people’s livelihoods. This bill helps to ensure Connecticut families are protected in this quickly changing economy.”

Protection for Residents

Empowering Connecticut’s Workforce

The bill now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration prior to the legislative session’s May 6 deadline.

Senator Anwar Joins Passage of Bill to Protect Residents from AI Harms, Boost Workforce AI Readiness

Posted on April 21, 2026 by sdozapier@senatedems.ct.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Joe O’Leary | Joe.OLeary@cga.ct.gov | 508-479-4969

April 21, 2026

Senator Anwar Joins Passage of Bill to Protect Residents from AI Harms, Boost Workforce AI Readiness

Today, State Senator Saud Anwar (D-South Windsor) voted with the Senate to advance critical protections for Connecticut residents in the digital age. Senate Bill 5, “An Act Concerning Online Safety,” addresses emerging harms from artificial intelligence, establishes workforce development programs, and positions Connecticut as a national leader in responsible AI policy.

“We know AI is a growing presence in our lives, and we need to make sure it’s a useful tool to help us – not a monolith that can harm us,” said Sen. Anwar. “This bill covers sought-after advances including important controls for minors, support for training in the workforce as AI elements grow in use, and protections to fight AI-based discrimination in hiring practices. It represents several steps forward to make sure this technology serves us the way it needs to.”

Training and information provided to nonprofits and small businesses will increase their AI literacy so they can apply efficiencies to their operations and function well in this new technological landscape.

Partnerships with the Department of Housing, Labor Department, and the Secretary of State will help connect Connecticut residents to the AI Academy, which will equip them with essential AI knowledge and skills to prosper in a modern workplace.

This bill will also establish an AI sandbox program. The program will provide an environment where development and collaboration can thrive, leading to breakthroughs and advancements while ensuring appropriate regulatory oversight.
The responsible use of AI also offers potential to enhance the efficiency of government and serve constituents. Equipping Connecticut’s workforce with the skills and knowledge to utilize AI effectively is essential for realizing the full potential of this technology and ensuring a smooth and equitable transition into an AI economy.

Senator Slap Joins Passage of Bill to Protect Residents from AI Harms, Boost Workforce AI Readiness

Posted on April 21, 2026 by sdozapier@senatedems.ct.gov

Senator Slap Joins Passage of Bill to Protect Residents from AI Harms, Boost Workforce AI Readiness

April 21, 2026

Today, State Senator Derek Slap (D-West Hartford) voted with the Senate to advance critical protections for Connecticut residents in the digital age. Senate Bill 5, “An Act Concerning Online Safety,” addresses emerging harms from artificial intelligence, establishes workforce development programs, and positions Connecticut as a national leader in responsible AI policy.

“As AI continues to grow in use and functionality, we need to make sure we’re focused on keeping its use focused in the right direction,” said Sen. Slap. “That means reining in chatbots that have potential to harm, preventing potential hiring discrimination and making sure Connecticut residents are trained to utilize the technology to the best of their abilities. That’ll help us meet this moment and better prepare for the future. I’m grateful to Senator James Maroney for his extensive work on this important issue.”

Senator Marx Joins Passage of Bill to Protect Residents from AI Harms, Boost Workforce AI Readiness

Posted on April 21, 2026 by sdozapier@senatedems.ct.gov

Senator Marx Joins Passage of Bill to Protect Residents from AI Harms, Boost Workforce AI Readiness

April 21, 2026

Today, State Senator Martha Marx (D-New London) voted with the Senate to advance critical protections for Connecticut residents in the digital age. Senate Bill 5, “An Act Concerning Online Safety,” addresses emerging harms from artificial intelligence, establishes workforce development programs, and positions Connecticut as a national leader in responsible AI policy.

“As time passes, AI is becoming more prevalent in daily life, which makes it important for us to keep an eye on its functions – good and bad,” said Sen. Marx. “We need to protect youth from chatbots that have been shown to have harmful tendencies. We need to make sure our workforce is ready for AI, both in its functions and in adding transparency to its use in hiring. This bill helps push Connecticut to the forefront of our country’s approach to AI, emphasizing its positives over its negatives.”

SEN. LESSER VOTES TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF DISABLED CT RESIDENTS FROM THE ABUSES OF THE TRUMP REGIME

Posted on April 21, 2026 by sdozapier@senatedems.ct.gov

SEN. LESSER VOTES TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF DISABLED CT RESIDENTS FROM THE ABUSES OF THE TRUMP REGIME

HARTFORD – As the Trump regime slashes decades of disability rights advancements at the federal level, state Senator Matt Lesser (D-Middletown) and Senate Democrats today took action to ensure that those historic rights will continue to be available to disabled residents living and working in Connecticut.

Today, the Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 430, “AN ACT CODIFYING THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT,” which incorporates those historic federal protections into Connecticut law, and allows anyone aggrieved by an alleged ADA violation to file a complaint with Connecticut’s Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities instead of at the federal level.

“Elon Musk and Donald Trump’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency took a wrecking ball to the federal staff who were in charge of enforcing the ADA. Now The National Federation of the Blind, the American Association of People with Disabilities, Deaf Equality, and others are suing the Trump administration over this,” said Sen. Lesser, who is Senate Chair of the Human Services Committee. “With this bill today we’re fixing a very important piece of federal law where you no longer have to appeal to Washington, D.C. if you believe your ADA rights have been violated; now you can appeal any violations directly and locally through Connecticut’s CHRO.”

The Trump regime has been systematically dismantling various federal ADA protections for the past year.

In March 2025, the Department of Justice withdrew 11 pieces of guidance related to the ADA, including information on accessible parking, fitting rooms, and effective communication in hotel and hospital settings. The DOJ cited the move as an effort to reduce regulatory burdens on businesses. Disability rights advocates argue that removing ADA guidance leaves businesses without clear information on how to accommodate, which may lead to a decrease in accessibility standards.

Trump executive orders targeting Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) in the federal government have been seen as direct attacks on accessibility, potentially removing support for disabled federal employees and altering workplace accommodations.

A July 2025 Trump executive order encouraging the involuntary commitment of individuals with mental health disabilities was criticized for potentially violating the Supreme Court’s Olmstead decision and the core tenets of the ADA. The Court held in 1999 that Title II of the ADA requires public entities to administer services in the “most integrated setting appropriate” to the needs of qualified individuals with disabilities.

Advocacy groups have also raised alarms about reduced staff and funding in federal offices tasked with enforcing disability civil rights, including the Office for Civil Rights at the Department of Education, and proposals to cut Medicaid funding are viewed as a threat to the independence of people with disabilities, potentially forcing them into institutions rather than allowing them to live in their communities.

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Senator McCrory Backs AI Safety Bill to Guard Families and Strengthen Connecticut’s Economic Future

Posted on April 21, 2026April 22, 2026 by Devin James

Senator McCrory Backs AI Safety Bill to Guard Families and Strengthen Connecticut’s Economic Future

HARTFORD – Senator Doug McCrory (D-Hartford), Senate Chair of the Education Committee, today voted in favor of Senate Bill 5, legislation that protects Connecticut residents from AI harms through safeguards around AI chatbots and employment discrimination, while investing in workforce programs to prepare residents for an AI-driven economy.

“Connecticut small businesses, nonprofits, and working families in Hartford, Bloomfield, and Windsor are already navigating an economy being reshaped by AI, and most of them are doing it without the tools or the information they need to keep up,” Senator McCrory said. “This bill addresses both sides of that reality: it puts real protections in place so that no one, especially our young people, is harmed by an AI system that was never designed with their wellbeing in mind, and it makes sure our community has access to the training and resources to compete. Every child and every worker in this state deserves a fair shot at what comes next, and that is exactly what we are fighting for.”

Protection for Residents

Empowering Connecticut’s Workforce

The bill now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration prior to the legislative session’s May 6 deadline.

Senator Needleman Joins Passage of Bill to Protect Residents from AI Harms, Boost Workforce AI Readiness

Posted on April 21, 2026 by sdozapier@senatedems.ct.gov

Senator Needleman Joins Passage of Bill to Protect Residents from AI Harms, Boost Workforce AI Readiness

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Joe O’Leary | Joe.OLeary@cga.ct.gov | 508-479-4969

April 21, 2026

State Senator Norm Needleman (D-Essex) voted with the Senate to advance critical protections for Connecticut residents in the digital age. Senate Bill 5, “An Act Concerning Online Safety,” addresses emerging harms from artificial intelligence, establishes workforce development programs, and positions Connecticut as a national leader in responsible AI policy.

“AI is likely here to stay, and we need to make sure we’re focused on its future. This legislation plays a significant role in putting guardrails on this new technology, emphasizing its positive uses and limiting potential harms,” said Sen. Needleman. “It addresses what we already know: chatbots need to be limited, AI’s use in hiring can lead to discrimination and our state needs a workforce ready and prepared for the future. It’s an important step forward for our state.”

Senate Bill 5 advances critical AI legislation to protect Connecticut residents from emerging digital harms. It will require AI chatbot operators to make reasonable efforts to detect suicidal ideations or indicators of self-harm expressed by users and have a protocol to respond with appropriate resources.

More than 70% of teenagers use AI companions, with about 50% using them on a regular basis. There have been numerous cases in the U.S. of teenagers who have disclosed suicidality to AI chatbots who not only did not offer mental health resources but even encouraged and assisted minor users in attempting or committing suicide.

Other crucial protections include employment disclosures and discrimination. Employees will be notified if AI is being used to make hiring and employment decisions, as these decisions greatly impact their careers and lives. Also, employers would not be able to use the deployment of AI decision technology for discriminatory employment decisions. If employers are prohibited from discriminating against employees, they should not be utilizing tools that have the same ultimate impact.

Various programs and partnerships in this bill will ensure that residents are educated on technical skills so that our state is home to a robust AI talent network and working people are not left behind as our world quickly modernizes.

Training and information provided to nonprofits and small businesses will increase their AI literacy so they can apply efficiencies to their operations and function well in this new technological landscape.

Partnerships with the Department of Housing, Labor Department, and the Secretary of State will help connect Connecticut residents to the AI Academy, which will equip them with essential AI knowledge and skills to prosper in a modern workplace.

This bill will also establish an AI sandbox program. The program will provide an environment where development and collaboration can thrive, leading to breakthroughs and advancements while ensuring appropriate regulatory oversight.

The responsible use of AI also offers potential to enhance the efficiency of government and serve constituents. Equipping Connecticut’s workforce with the skills and knowledge to utilize AI effectively is essential for realizing the full potential of this technology and ensuring a smooth and equitable transition into an AI economy.

Senator Lopes Leads Senate Passage of Bill to Curb Helium Balloon Pollution in Connecticut

Posted on April 21, 2026 by sdozapier@senatedems.ct.gov

Senator Lopes Leads Senate Passage of Bill to Curb Helium Balloon Pollution in Connecticut

Today, state Senator Rick Lopes (D-New Britain), Chair of the Environment Committee, led senate passage of a bill that will lessen the negative impact helium balloons have on our environment.

Senate Bill 452, “An Act Concerning the Release of Lighter-Than-Air Balloons,” takes a comprehensive approach to reducing balloon pollution in Connecticut through both release prohibitions and new retailer requirements.

“Balloons may seem like a harmless decoration but once they’re released into the air, they become litter,” said Sen. Lopes. “That litter that can travel hundreds of miles, end up in our waterways, and harm wildlife that mistakes balloon fragments for food. This legislation takes meaningful, common-sense steps to address that problem while still allowing people to enjoy balloons responsibly.”

Ban on Balloon Releases
Starting October 1, 2026, the bill prohibits the knowing release, organization of a release, or intentional release of any helium or other lighter-than-air gas balloon in the state. Under current law, individuals can be issued an infraction for releasing 10 or more balloons within a 24-hour period.
New Retailer Weight Requirement
Beginning January 1, 2027, the bill will require any retailer that sells or offers for sale any helium or lighter-than-air gas balloon in the state to attach a weight to the balloon sufficient to prevent it from rising into the atmosphere. Retailers who fail to comply will be subject to a civil penalty of $20 per violation.

Senate Bill 452 now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration.