What is an AI impact assessment?

Last verified: May 28, 2026

Answer

An AI impact assessment is a documented evaluation of an AI system's potential risks, including bias, privacy, and safety impacts. Connecticut SB-1103 requires impact assessments before deploying high-risk AI systems. Note: Colorado originally required impact assessments under SB 24-205, but SB 26-189 (signed 2026-05-14) repealed that requirement — Colorado no longer mandates impact assessments and instead requires an ADMT disclosure-and-notice framework.

Applicable Regulations

SB-26-189

Colorado AI Act — Automated Decision-Making Technology (SB 26-189, repeal & reenactment of SB 24-205)

enacted

On 2026-05-14 Governor Polis signed SB 26-189, which repeals and reenacts the Colorado AI Act (originally SB 24-205). The new law abandons the risk-management / annual-impact-assessment model and replaces it with a disclosure-and-notice framework governing "automated decision-making technology" (ADMT) that makes or substantially influences "consequential decisions" (education, employment, housing, financial services, insurance, healthcare, government services). The statute formally takes effect 2026-08-12 (no safety clause), but all substantive compliance obligations — for both deployers and developers — begin 2027-01-01, which is the operative date for regulated businesses; the Attorney General's implementing rules are also due by 2027-01-01. The AG has stated he will not enforce until the mandatory rulemaking process concludes.

Key Requirements

Interaction Notice Deployers must give clear notice at the point of interaction when a consumer interacts with an automated decision-making technology (ADMT)
Adverse-Outcome Disclosure Provide a plain-language explanation within 30 days of an adverse consequential decision made or substantially influenced by an ADMT
Data Correction Right Allow consumers to request correction of factually incorrect personal data used by the ADMT
Meaningful Human Review Provide meaningful human review and reconsideration after an adverse consequential decision
Developer Documentation Developers must supply technical documentation (intended uses, known harmful uses, training-data categories, known limitations and risks, and instructions enabling meaningful human review), notify deployers of material updates, and retain compliance records for 3+ years. Like all duties under the act, these obligations begin 2027-01-01
Effective: 2027-01-01 Penalties: Enforced exclusively by the Colorado Attorney General; violations are treated as deceptive trade practices under the Colorado Consumer Protection Act. Before enforcement the AG must give 60 days' written notice and an opportunity to cure; this cure right sunsets 2030-01-01, after which enforcement may be immediate. The AG has stated no enforcement will occur until the mandatory rulemaking process concludes.
SB-1103

An Act Concerning Artificial Intelligence, Automated Decision-Making and Personal Data Privacy (Public Act 23-16)

enacted

Public Act 23-16 — the enacted form of Connecticut SB-1103 (2023 session). Signed by Governor Ned Lamont on June 7, 2023, making Connecticut among the first states to impose oversight on state agency use of AI. Government-only scope: does NOT directly regulate private-sector AI. Requires state agencies to complete impact assessments before deploying AI systems, publish a public AI inventory, and submit annual reports to the joint standing consumer-protection committee. Sections 1–3 effective July 1, 2023; Section 4 effective October 1, 2023; Section 5 effective upon passage.

Key Requirements

State Agency AI Impact Assessments State agencies may not employ AI systems that have not undergone impact assessments or that result in unlawful discrimination or disparate impact against specified individuals or groups
Public AI Inventory All inventory reports detailing AI systems used by state agencies and the Judicial Department must be publicly accessible online, with the Department of Administrative Services making its inventories available on the state's open data site
Annual Consumer-Protection Report Annual report to the joint standing committee on consumer protection, due February 15 beginning 2025 and annually thereafter
Effective: 2023-07-01 Penalties: Oversight and enforcement through legislative reporting requirements. Agencies failing to comply face ongoing reporting obligations to the Connecticut General Assembly.

Where this lands operationally

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Related Questions

  • Does Colorado require AI impact assessments? No longer. SB 26-189 (signed 2026-05-14) repealed and reenacted Colorado's AI Act, eliminating the impact-assessment requirement entirely. Colorado now instead requires deployers of automated decision-making technology (ADMT) to: give consumers clear interaction notice, disclose adverse consequential decisions within 30 days, allow correction of incorrect personal data, and provide meaningful human review and reconsideration. The statute formally takes effect 2026-08-12, but all compliance obligations — for deployers and developers alike — begin 2027-01-01.
  • What should an AI governance framework include? An AI governance framework should include an AI use policy, an inventory of where AI makes or substantially influences consequential decisions, documentation requirements, incident response procedures, and regular audit mechanisms. Note that Colorado's AI Act (SB 26-189, which repealed and reenacted SB 24-205) dropped the old impact-assessment and high-risk-classification model in favor of disclosure, consumer-notice, and human-review duties — so a framework should map to those obligations rather than the repealed assessment regime.