Connecticut’s First AI Caucus Focuses On Regulation, Equity, And Workforce Readiness

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HARTFORD, CT – Connecticut lawmakers announced the formation of the state’s first Artificial Intelligence Caucus last week, highlighting the rapid spread of AI in everyday life and the need to ensure that it serves the public interest.

Caucus leaders said their mission is to strike a balance between innovation, transparency, and public protection – especially for vulnerable communities.

“The formation of Connecticut’s AI Caucus is a significant step in ensuring that Artificial Intelligence serves the public good,” said Rep. Hubert Delany, D-Stamford, who co-founded the caucus alongside Sen. James Maroney, D-Milford.

Delany warned that AI is already influencing critical decisions around housing, employment, credit access, education, and even medical freedom.

“When powerful systems like these get it wrong,” he said, “people’s lives are on the line.”

Delany stressed that without transparency or accountability, AI usage can become both unethical and potentially dangerous.

“We believe that innovation and civil rights are not in conflict – they are at their best when they coexist,” he said.

The caucus is modeled after Senate Bill 2, legislation introduced by Maroney that proposes a framework for regulating AI in Connecticut. SB 2, originally introduced in 2024, stalled in the House amid threats of a gubernatorial veto. Maroney reintroduced an amended version in 2025 and described it as “a floor, not a ceiling” – a foundation for ongoing legislative efforts around AI.

“Smart regulation isn’t a burden – it’s a safeguard,” Delany added. “One that ensures artificial intelligence works for each of us, not just the few.”

SB 2 focuses on transparency, ethical standards, and training initiatives. It also includes provisions to criminalize the use of AI for nonconsensual deepfake imagery. 

Maroney emphasized the need for public awareness.

“If AI or an algorithm is being used in an automated decision-making system, you have the right to know,” Maroney said. “You have the right to know that the system making decisions about your life is fair and accurate.”

Sen. Jorge Cabrera, D-Hamden, spoke about the importance of protecting historically marginalized groups from discrimination by AI systems.

“We need to make sure people aren’t discriminated against – especially in populations that are oftentimes historically exploited,” he said.

Matthew Wallace, CEO of Connecticut-based tech firm VRSIM, also addressed the gathering. 

“AI is here. It’s as ubiquitous as you imagine – probably more so. Not just in your Netflix subscription or your phone, but in every job interview now,” Wallace said, voicing support for SB 2, calling it a “practical, effective, and well-conceived bill” that allows small companies “a seat at the table before it’s absorbed by the technical giants.”

Maroney also raised concerns about AI’s disproportionate impact on women and communities of color.

“One-third of women are in jobs that are at risk of being fully automated by AI,” he said. “What happens if we’re eliminating the bottom rung of the ladder?”

He called for widespread training efforts to ensure people are prepared for workforce changes.

“We can’t expect people to come to us. We need to go out and make sure people are aware of these training opportunities,” Maroney said.

Connecticut has already partnered with Google to launch the CT AI Academy, offering free training and credentials. Maroney said plans are underway to expand the effort through a Connecticut Teens AI Academy and a Small Business AI Academy. These initiatives will be supported through partnerships with nonprofits, workforce development boards, and organizations such as The Center for Adaptive Learning and the Boys and Girls Club, with a “two-generation” approach that includes tailored education for parents and children.

Maroney closed with a quote from former President Barack Obama, which he said reflects the caucus’s guiding philosophy: “In a capitalist society, dignity isn’t automatic – it’s a decision we make.”