Chatbot Laws · verified Oct. 21, 2026
Broad House-passed kids' online safety package. Title IV (the SAFE BOTs Act) puts duties on chatbot providers: tell known minors the bot is AI, show crisis-hotline resources when asked about suicide, not claim a professional license, and keep break-reminder and content policies. Other titles add a chatbot study and FTC education resources.
Who it would cover
Title IV applies to chatbot providers (persons in the business of providing a chatbot directly to consumers) as to covered users they know, or should have known, are minors (under 17). Sites with an incidental chat function are excluded.
What it would require
| AI disclosure | Disclose that the chatbot is an AI system, not a natural person.When: At the first interaction and whenever the user asks if it is AI§ 404(a)(1), (b)(1) |
|---|---|
| Minors | Providers must keep policies advising a break after 3 hours of continuous use and addressing sexual exploitation and abuse and promotion of gambling, narcotics, tobacco and alcohol.§ 405 |
| Crisis protocol | Disclose suicide and crisis hotline resources when a covered user prompts the chatbot about suicide or suicidal ideation.§ 404(a)(2), (b)(2) |
| Therapy and licensed titles | A chatbot provider may not offer a chatbot that claims to be a licensed professional unless true.§ 403 |
| Other duties | Disclosures must be clear, age-appropriate and in plain language a minor can understand. Elsewhere the bill orders a 4-year NIH study of chatbots and minors' mental health (Title V, Part 4) and FTC educational resources on safe chatbot use by minors (§ 524, the AWARE Act). Takes effect 1 year after enactment unless stated otherwise (§ 706).§ 404(c); §§ 517-519, 524, 706 |
Enforcement
| Enforced by | Federal Trade Commission and State attorneys general (parens patriae)§ 701(a)-(b) |
|---|---|
| Private lawsuits | No |
| Penalties | Violations of the Act, including Title IV, are treated as violations of an FTC rule on unfair or deceptive practices (FTC Act § 18(a)(1)(B)), so FTC Act penalties apply; state AGs may sue in federal court for injunctions, damages or restitution. No separate dollar amount. |
Related laws
- Passed the House
Sources
- All actions, Congress.gov Supports: Latest action and dates.
- Cosponsors, Congress.gov Supports: Sponsor and cosponsor count.
- Bill text, Congress.gov Supports: Engrossed text: Title IV, §§ 2, 517-519, 524, 701-706.
- Bill status data (Library of Congress feed, GPO govinfo) Supports: House passage Jun 29, 2026 (267-117), Senate referral Jul 13, 2026, 1 cosponsor.
- H.R. 7757 as passed by the House (text) Supports: Title IV, §§ 401-406; § 701(a)-(b).