Senate committee advances bill requiring disclosures when AI shapes consequential decisions

Senate Bill 189, which lays out disclosure and accountability rules for automated decision-making technologies, moved from the Senate Business, Labor and Technology Committee to the Committee on Appropriations after unanimous committee passage.

The bill, explained by sponsor Majority Leader Rodriguez, would require upfront notice when an automated decision-making technology (ADMT) materially influences a consequential decision and expanded post-decision disclosures when an adverse outcome occurs. Disclosures would describe how a decision was made, the role of ADMT, and how individuals may request additional information or human review. The measure also clarifies that existing anti-discrimination laws continue to apply and allows an aggrieved person to seek correction of inaccurate data.

Supporters at the hearing — including civil-rights groups, consumer advocates, educators and business organizations — said the bill strikes a balance between protecting people and allowing innovation. Anaya Robinson of the ACLU of Colorado said the bill’s documentation and notice provisions would “allow individuals affected by automated decision making technology to understand how those systems shape outcomes.” Marissa Molina of the Community Economic Defense Project described cases where rental and tenant-screening algorithms produced unexplained rent increases and denials.

Industry witnesses including the Colorado Technology Association and small-business owners urged technical fixes and stressed the need for clarity to make compliance feasible. Roger Gose, a K–12 technology director, asked the committee to preserve education-alignment language so school districts can rely on existing FERPA processes rather than separate notice systems.

Several labor and civil-rights witnesses urged stronger enforcement tools and expressed concern the bill removed some of the prevention obligations contained in earlier proposals. Robert Lindgren of the Colorado AFL-CIO and union leaders argued the bill’s right-to-cure period and the narrowing of risk-management requirements could delay accountability for workers harmed by discriminatory systems.

Sponsors adopted two technical amendments in committee to clarify implementation timing and language. The bill as amended preserves an enforcement role for the attorney general under the Consumer Protection Act and allocates liability between developers and deployers where relevant. Committee members sent the measure to appropriations with a favorable recommendation.

The next step for SB 189 is a hearing in Appropriations; the committee record shows unanimous committee support as it moves forward.