From televisions to watches and even refrigerators, “smart devices” are everywhere these days.

On Thursday, Connecticut lawmakers passed a bill to rein in those devices.

But it has one glaring exception – cell phones and computers.

Feel like your smart devices are spying on you?

“Oh, 100%,” said Toni Horton, of Stratford. “Every time I’m talking about something, they always come in. And then, the next day I’ll see it come up on my phone.”

State lawmakers also think so. On Thursday, they gave final approval to a sweeping consumer protection law.

“I think this is a great bill to protect our consumers. This is one you’ll want to put on your mailer,” said State Rep. Gary Turco (D-Newington). “I have in my house, that my wife insisted on, a smart washer and dryer. Is it recording audio and video? I don't know it, but it could be.”

Under the legislation, many smart devices must let owners deactivate a camera or microphone when they set it up. Owners must opt in to manufacturers selling their personal information.

“I am concerned that information is being gathered,” said Jeanne Fredericks, of New Canaan. “Sometimes when I’m doing an email, there will then be an ad mentioning something that was in the email.”

The bill also gives consumers the “right to repair” products on their own, with certain conditions.

But there’s a catch.

The privacy rules do not apply to smartphones, computers, medical devices and video game consoles – only televisions, home appliances and toys with a camera or microphone.

“I'm not too worried about my refrigerator or television, even if it is a smart TV,” said Cappy Waters, of Darien. “I worry about my phone or my laptop or my iPad.”

Although the bill shields manufacturers from revealing trade secrets, the wireless industry argued that including phones and computers could be a security risk.

“CTIA is concerned that this legislation has the potential to weaken the safety, privacy and security features of electronic products,” said Mike Blank with the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association. “With broad and unchecked access to technical information, security protections could be easily circumvented. In an era of sophisticated cyberattacks, we should not make it easier to hack devices and networks.”

Some lawmakers called it a loophole.

“It’s almost a shame that you can fix your antenna, but apparently you can’t fix your laptop or your computer,” said state Rep. Dave Rutigliano (R-Trumbull). “Maybe we could contemplate that next year.”

The new law also requires advertised prices to include all extra fees, including those for rental properties. It requires an annual reminder to cancel subscriptions that automatically renew.

And the legislation lets the state attorney general investigate grocery prices all the way up the supply chain, not just at the local store level.

“I think that’s phenomenal,” said Waters.

A recent FTC report found that national chains’ profits keep rising – despite inflation. In 2015, they earned 5.6% above costs. By 2023, that figure jumped to 7%.

That led Connecticut Attorney General William Tong to launch his own inquiry.

“It's taking advantage of people,” Tong said in April 2024. “It’s charging an excessively high, or unconscionably high, price.”

The consumer protection bill now heads to Gov. Ned Lamont.

“The governor appreciates the effort and ideas that went into creating better protections for consumers in this legislation,” spokesperson Rob Blanchard said in a statement. “He plans on signing the bill once it reaches his desk.”