General Law Committee raises bills for public hearing; drafts SB4 and SB5 and reserves SB105

The General Law Committee met in a procedural session and voted to move multiple measures toward public hearings, including drafting two caucus-priority bills described by Sen. Maroney as focusing on consumer data privacy and online safety.

Sen. Maroney, who summarized the caucus priorities during the meeting, said, "Senate bill 4 will contain a number of consumer issues, but looking at updating our consumer data privacy, to put some restrictions on how facial recognition is used, looking at labeling around dynamic pricing, which is something that had been done in New York state, and looking at, the potentially looking at putting restrictions around how, data is shared from license plate readers." He described Senate Bill 5 as an "online safety bill" in three parts, including "chatbot protections and then employment disclosures" when AI is being used to screen resumes, and workforce-development measures intended to expand an "AI academy" and resources for manufacturers.

On a motion by Representative Ackert, seconded by Sen. Maroney, the committee raised agenda items 1–6 under subsection 3 for public hearing; the chair called a voice vote and recorded no opposition on the transcript. Later, on a motion moved by Representative Titigliano and seconded by Sen. Maroney, the committee voted to draft items 7 and 8. Following Sen. Maroney’s description of the bills, the chair called a voice vote and the motion passed with members saying "aye." The committee also moved, on a motion by Sen. Maroney and seconded by Sen. Ciccarella, to reserve SB 105 for a subject-matter public hearing; that action likewise passed by voice vote.

Sen. Maroney included several quantitative and programmatic points in his remarks: he said there are "about 5 or 6 issues" expected to be included in SB 4 and stated that "now 98% of Fortune 500 companies are using AI for screening resumes" when explaining the employment-disclosure portion of SB 5. The transcript does not provide additional bill text or detailed fiscal notes; the committee’s actions at this meeting were procedural steps to place the measures on the path to public hearings.

The chair announced that the committee’s public hearing process will begin on Feb. 18 (date as stated in the transcript) and that the meeting would stand in recess until 4 p.m. for attendance purposes before adjournment. Several members and staff confirmed attendance before the session ended. The transcript does not specify the meeting’s calendar date or include the final, published bill text for the measures discussed.

What happens next: the items raised and drafted will be scheduled for subject-matter public hearings, where the committee and members of the public can hear testimony, debate policy specifics and consider amendments before any formal committee votes on final language.