As adults and children turn to chatbots for personal questions, states are introducing bills to regulate these AI tools. In 2026, 98 chatbot-specific bills have been introduced across 34 states, with 15 states signing legislation so far.
Regulating AI Chatbots
The bills focus on provisions such as disclosure and transparency, age assurance and access controls, content safety, harm prevention, data protection, and liability and enforcement. Some laws require chatbots to remind users that they are interacting with AI, while others restrict sexual content or content that encourages self-harm for users under 18.
Specific protections aimed at children are common, with several enacted laws requiring platforms to give parents tools to oversee or control a minor’s account. A newer category of restriction targets humanized or emotional systems, relating to chatbots designed to foster emotional attachment, isolate, or create a sense of secrecy between the user and the bot.
Enforcement and Challenges
Enforcement varies across states, with most enacted laws enforced by the state Attorney General. However, having bills in motion does not guarantee a clear pathway to their passage as law. The core challenge the US faces is the lack of a shared definition of what constitutes a chatbot, contributing to an emerging regulatory patchwork.
Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
