logo
Colorado lawmakers debate transgender rights, rideshare regulation, deepfake porn in final hours of legislative session

Colorado lawmakers debate transgender rights, rideshare regulation, deepfake porn in final hours of legislative session

CBS News07-05-2025

As the final hours of legislative session loomed, Colorado lawmakers debated bills regarding transgender rights, rideshare regulation and deepfake porn.
CBS
House Bill 25-1312 regarding transgender rights passed the Colorado Senate Tuesday after hours of debate and significant revisions. The Colorado House needs to concur with the Senate amendments before the bill heads to the Gov. Jared Polis.
The final version of HB 25-1312 requires schools to have gender neutral dress codes and to use transgender student preferred names if they allow nicknames. It also defines dead-naming -- referring to a transgender person by something other than their chosen name and pronoun -- a form of discrimination.
Sponsors ultimately removed the most controversial provision of the transgender rights bill, which would have required courts to consider whether a parent is gender affirming when deciding child custody cases.
The governor's office shared in a statement, "Governor Polis appreciates the work of the bill sponsors and all the advocates involved in the bill's progression, especially in removing the controversial changes to family law from the bill and will review the final version when it reaches his desk."
A contentious bill regarding rideshares also underwent big changes in the final days after Uber threatened to leave the state. House Bill 25-1291 was brought by state Rep. Jenny Willford (Col-D) who says she was sexually assaulted by a Lyft driver.
Under the measure, rideshare companies would have to do background checks on drivers every six months and review complaints within 7 days. But a provision mandating audiovisual recordings was made optional if both the driver and rider don't object.
The bill is expected to pass the Senate Wednesday, and the House then needs to concur with the Senate amendments.
The governor's office indicated Polis still has concerns with the bill saying, "Governor Polis is committed to making Colorado safer for everyone, including making sure ridesharing companies are keeping riders and drivers safe. He has shared concerns about privacy, conflicts with federal and existing state law, and the ability of the bill to be successfully implemented ... at this point there remain significant legal and policy concerns."
The House took up Senate Bill 25-288 criminalizing intimate deepfakes in the final hours of the session. The measure makes it a crime to digitally alter pictures of real people to create fake nudes. Victims can also sue for up to $150,000 in damages.
Some lawmakers tried and failed to strip a provision providing immunity for the platforms used to make the images. The bill passed the House, so it returned to the Senate and repassed there.
The Colorado General Assembly adjourns Wednesday.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Consultant on trial for AI-generated robocalls mimicking Biden says he has no regrets
Consultant on trial for AI-generated robocalls mimicking Biden says he has no regrets

Associated Press

time28 minutes ago

  • Associated Press

Consultant on trial for AI-generated robocalls mimicking Biden says he has no regrets

LACONIA, N.H. (AP) — A political consultant told a New Hampshire jury Wednesday that he doesn't regret sending voters robocalls that used artificial intelligence to mimic former President Joe Biden and that he's confident he didn't break the law. Steven Kramer, 56, of New Orleans, has long admitted to orchestrating a message sent to thousands of voters two days before New Hampshire's Jan. 23, 2024, presidential primary. Recipients heard an AI-generated voice similar to the Democratic president's that used his catchphrase 'What a bunch of malarkey' and, as prosecutors allege, suggested that voting in the primary would preclude voters from casting ballots in November. 'It's important that you save your vote for the November election,' voters were told. 'Your votes make a difference in November, not this Tuesday.' Kramer, who faces decades in prison if convicted of voter suppression and impersonating a candidate, said his goal was to send a wake-up call about the potential dangers of AI when he paid a New Orleans magician $150 to create the recording. He was getting frequent calls from people using AI in campaigns, and, worried about the lack of regulations, made it his New Year's resolution to take action. 'This is going to be my one good deed this year,' he recalled while testifying in Belknap County Superior Court. He said his goal wasn't to influence an election, because he didn't consider the primary a real election. At Biden's request, the Democratic National Committee dislodged New Hampshire from its traditional early spot in the 2024 nominating calendar but later dropped its threat not to seat the state's national convention delegates. Biden did not put his name on the ballot or campaign there but won as a write-in. Kramer, who owns a firm specializing in get-out-the-vote projects, argued that the primary was a meaningless straw poll unsanctioned by the DNC. At the time the calls went out, voters were disenfranchised, he said. Asked by his attorney, Tom Reid, whether he did anything illegal, Kramer said, 'I'm positive I did not.' Later, he said he had no regrets and that his actions likely spurred AI regulations in multiple states. Kramer, who will be questioned by prosecutors Thursday, also faces a $6 million fine by the Federal Communications Commission but told The Associated Press on Wednesday that he won't pay it. Lingo Telecom, the company that transmitted the calls, agreed to pay $1 million in a settlement in August. The robocalls appeared to come from a former New Hampshire Democratic Party chair, Kathy Sullivan, and told voters to call her number to be removed from the call list. On the witness stand earlier Wednesday, Sullivan said she was confused and then outraged after speaking to one of the recipients and later hearing the message. 'I hung up the phone and said, 'There is something really crazy going on,'' she said. 'Someone is trying to suppress the vote for Biden. I can't believe this is happening.' Months later, she got a call from Kramer in which he said he used her number because he knew she would contact law enforcement and the media. He also described his motive — highlighting AI's potential dangers — but she didn't believe him, she testified. 'My sense was he was trying to convince me that he'd done this defensible, good thing,' she said. 'I'm listening to this thinking to myself, 'What does he thing I am, stupid?' He tried to suppress the vote.'

National Guard troops have temporarily detained civilians in LA protests, commander says
National Guard troops have temporarily detained civilians in LA protests, commander says

Washington Post

time30 minutes ago

  • Washington Post

National Guard troops have temporarily detained civilians in LA protests, commander says

WASHINGTON — National Guard troops already have temporarily detained civilians in the Los Angeles protests over immigration raids , the commander in charge said Wednesday, but they quickly turned them over to law enforcement. Maj. Gen. Scott Sherman, speaking in an interview with The Associated Press and one other media outlet, also said about 500 of the National Guard troops have been trained so far to accompany agents on immigration operations . Photos of Guard soldiers providing security for the agents have already been circulated by immigration officials.

Permitless concealed carry in North Carolina faces uphill battle after some GOP pushback
Permitless concealed carry in North Carolina faces uphill battle after some GOP pushback

Washington Post

time30 minutes ago

  • Washington Post

Permitless concealed carry in North Carolina faces uphill battle after some GOP pushback

RALEIGH, N.C. — A bill to let adults carry concealed handguns without a permit cleared the North Carolina legislature on Wednesday, however the path to joining the majority of U.S. states with similar laws remains uncertain. The GOP-backed legislation faces a likely veto from Democratic Gov. Josh Stein, as well as pushback from a handful of Republicans who voted against the legislation in the state House. House Speaker Destin Hall acknowledged those concerns after Wednesday's vote.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store