Colorado AI Act
The template for US state comprehensive regulation — and the primary target of federal preemption efforts. Its risk-based, EU-flavored design means multistate companies effectively face AI-Act-lite duties inside the US.
What it is
The first comprehensive US state AI law: developers and deployers of 'high-risk' AI systems in consequential decisions (employment, lending, housing, healthcare) owe a duty of reasonable care against algorithmic discrimination, with impact assessments and notices. Effective 30 June 2026 after a legislative delay.
Who is affected
Developers and deployers of high-risk AI affecting Colorado residents
Key obligations
- Developers: disclose known risks, provide documentation to deployers
- Deployers: risk-management program, annual impact assessments, consumer notices and appeal rights
- AG-only enforcement; NIST AI RMF alignment as affirmative defense
Compliance dates
Colorado AI Act in effect
The first comprehensive US state AI law took effect: duty of reasonable care against algorithmic discrimination, impact assessments, and consumer notices for high-risk AI in consequential decisions.
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-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…
- US-STIllinois HB 3773Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act to prohibit employers from using AI that discriminates in recruitment, hiring, promotion or d…