The main focus of the special session that begins Thursday is closing a roughly $1 billion shortfall in the state budget, but the unseasonable return to the Colorado Capitol also gives lawmakers a chance to work on an unrelated issue: what to do about a controversial artificial intelligence law set to take effect next February.

Colorado’s first-in-the-nation anti-discrimination law sets rules for businesses and governments that use AI systems in some of their decision-making. But with the business community worried about implementation , the impending law is dividing Democrats who control the statehouse.

Gov. Jared Polis added the AI law to the list of issues lawmakers can take up in their special session, saying it will give them “space to make adjustments.”

“Whether they want to

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