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Senate committee advances bill to restrict AI “companion” chatbots aimed at children
Summary
The Senate Business and Labor Standing Committee advanced second-substitute HB 438, which would require transparency, privacy protections and child-specific safeguards for AI “companion” chatbots; the measure passed first out of committee on a 5–1 roll call after industry and advocates testified.
Representative Fiofi introduced the second substitute of House Bill 438, saying the narrow bill targets AI “companion” chatbots that simulate relationships and can exploit minors. She summarized three core provisions: users’ right to obtain conversation data and limits on using sensitive data; mandatory disclosures for advertising or paid relationships; and minor-focused safeguards including reminders the bot is not a person, encouragement to take breaks, prohibitions on promoting harmful behavior, crisis resources and parental consent before sharing youth data.
Director Boyd of the Office of AI…
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