On May 1, Connecticut’s legislature passed SB5 with overwhelming bipartisan support, sending the bill to Governor Ned Lamont, who has pledged to sign it. This landmark legislation, officially named the Connecticut Artificial Intelligence Responsibility and Transparency Act, imposes sweeping rules on AI systems—from chatbots that mimic emotional bonds to powerful frontier models. Employers must disclose automated hiring tools and cannot use them as shields against discrimination claims. AI companions face new transparency standards starting in 2027. Developers of large-scale generative AI systems with over a million users must adopt provenance data standards like C2PA. Frontier model firms are required to establish internal safety protocols and protect whistleblowers. The law’s first provisions take effect in October 2026, with enforcement reserved for the state Attorney General, denying private lawsuits. This move comes despite a Trump-era executive order urging states to avoid heavy-handed AI regulation. Connecticut now joins California and Colorado in defying federal guidance, creating a patchwork of rules that alarm tech companies. Attorney General William Tong has already indicated his office will vigorously enforce the new powers, signaling a tougher oversight landscape for AI developers operating across state lines.