HARTFORD, CT – Senate Democrats in the Connecticut General Assembly laid out the first part of their legislative agenda at a news conference Tuesday morning at the Legislative Office Building.
Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney, D-New Haven, was flanked by Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff, D-Norwalk, and Sens. James Maroney, D-Milford, and Marilyn Moore, D-Bridgeport, Co-Chair of the Senate Housing Committee. Together they announced three bills focusing on artificial intelligence, consumer protection measures, and the state’s housing crisis.
“Today we’re discussing a number of bills that were broadly supported in our caucus, and reflect what we think to be important policy developments for the people of Connecticut, and as a response to the pressing needs of our state,” Looney said while introducing the legislative agenda.
Senate Bill 2, “An Act Concerning Artificial Intelligence,” is intended to build upon legislation that was passed in 2023. That bill established the Office of Artificial Intelligence as well as a task force to study AI and to create an AI Bill of Rights.
The new proposed bill includes provisions that will increase transparency and accountability around AI by requiring that consumers are notified when interacting with AI. Another element of the bill will create CT Citizen’s AI Academies to train the state’s businesses and employees in the potential uses of AI.
The third provision of the bill would update Connecticut’s statute outlawing revenge porn to include generative AI images and prohibiting the use of AI to create nonconsensual images or child pornography.
“There were many important pieces of this bill, but one of the major pieces is to make it illegal to share non-consensual generated images,” Maroney said.
“We are in the early stages of this new technological revolution, and we can make Connecticut a leader in AI innovation. However, we first need to ensure that we are putting in protections to mitigate the potential harms and providing all of our citizens the tools they need to succeed in the new AI economy.”
Senate Republicans did not immediately return calls for comment on the Democrats’ announcement.
Access to Broadband Internet Service
Senate Bill 3, “An Act Concerning Consumer Protection,” aims to improve access to broadband internet for state residents, combat fees levied by various internet companies, and improve protections for consumers against digital threats.
“There are a number of different issues in [Senate Bill 3′, such as the development of a Net Equity program, which will be modeled around providing strong internet service to low-income households, aging populations, people with disabilities and rural communities,” said Duff. “Access to broadband is no longer a ‘nice to have.’ It is a must have.”
The legislation also would address junk fees, which are hidden or surprise fees that companies add to customers’ bills. In addition, it would require companies such as Amazon and Google to inform consumers through a privacy statement any time that a customer’s voice is recorded through a microphone, among other measures.
Connecticut’s Housing Shortage
Senate Bill 6, “An Act Concerning Housing,” would attempt to address the state’s housing crisis through a combination of tax incentives and direct action by the state government.
The bill would establish a 10% state tax credit for the conversion of commercial property into residential property, as long as the property creates at least 50 new residential units and includes at least 20% for deed-restricted affordable housing. The state’s sales tax would also be cut to 3% on goods purchased to build new housing developments with at least 50 new affordable units.
“We must continue to address the housing crisis and its causes in order to provide low- and moderate-income individuals and families with access to safe, stable housing options, regardless of their socio-economic background. We all have a collective responsibility to our most vulnerable populations and those experiencing homelessness,” Moore said in a statement.
Tuesday’s press conference was the first in a series of three that will be held throughout the week, where Democrats will lay out the rest of their legislative agenda.
