Chatbot Laws · verified Oct. 21, 2026
Would require chatbot providers to tell minors they know of that the bot is AI, show suicide-hotline resources when asked about suicide, not claim to be a licensed professional, and keep policies for 3-hour break reminders and harmful content. FTC and state AGs enforce.
Who it would cover
Chatbot providers (persons who provide a chatbot directly to consumers) as to covered users, meaning users the provider knows, or willfully ignores, are minors under 17. Sites with an incidental chat function are excluded.
What it would require
| AI disclosure | Tell each covered user that the chatbot is an AI system, not a natural person, in clear, age-appropriate language.When: At the first interaction and whenever the user asks if it is AI§ 2(b)(1), (b)(3) |
|---|---|
| Minors | Providers must keep policies to advise a break after 3 hours of continuous use and to address sexual material harmful to minors, gambling, and illegal drugs, tobacco and alcohol.§ 2(c) |
| Crisis protocol | Provide suicide and crisis hotline resources.When: Whenever the covered user asks about suicide or suicidal ideation§ 2(b)(2)(B) |
| Therapy and licensed titles | A chatbot may not say it is a licensed professional unless that is true.§ 2(a) |
| Other duties | NIH four-year longitudinal study of chatbot effects on minors' mental health. No duty to collect age data. Preempts state laws on the matters in subsections (a)-(c).§ 2(g), (h), (i) |
Enforcement
| Enforced by | Federal Trade Commission and State attorneys general (parens patriae)§ 2(e)-(f) |
|---|---|
| Private lawsuits | No |
| Penalties | Treated as a violation of an FTC rule on unfair or deceptive practices (FTC Act § 18(a)(1)(B)); FTC Act remedies apply. 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: Section 2 (introduced text).
- Bill status data (Library of Congress feed, GPO govinfo) Supports: Introduction, subcommittee markup Dec 11, 2025.
- H.R. 6489 as introduced (text) Supports: Section 2.