The 2025 legislative session in Colorado came to a close on Wednesday evening with nearly 500 bills passed during the 120 days of work. From budget cuts to sweeping legal protections, lawmakers tackled a wide range of issues. However, the most contentious debate revolved around the first-in-the-nation regulations for artificial intelligence.
Senate Majority Leader Robert Rodriguez faced criticism for killing a bill that would have updated AI regulations passed the previous year. The regulations, set to go into effect next year, require companies to disclose their use of AI and remove bias from AI tools. Despite calls for a delay to fine-tune the rules, the bill failed to pass.
Critics argue that the regulations are too broad and could impact businesses across the state. Bryan Leach, CEO of Ibotta, called for a special session to address concerns about the far-reaching impact of the new rules on businesses using software in Colorado.
While the debate over AI regulations dominated the session’s final days, other bills addressing school finance, background checks for ride-sharing companies, and public transit reforms also made progress. The session ended with a focus on healthcare proposals, including gender-affirming care and support for safety-net health providers.
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