House passes bill setting guardrails for conversational AI to protect minors

The Iowa House on the floor passed Senate file 2417 on a 95–0 vote, adopting a package of consumer- and child-safety requirements for conversational artificial intelligence systems.

Supporters said the bill requires chatbots to provide disclaimers during prolonged interactions with minors, allows parental access to minor accounts, and bars AI from providing professional behavioral-health services. A floor amendment (H8357) changed enforcement mechanics and deposit of civil penalties into the state general fund; the chamber approved that amendment by voice vote before final passage of the substituted Senate file.

Representing the bill on the floor, the sponsor from Appanoose summarized the measure as providing "disclaimers, prohibitions on certain communications with minors and allows parental access to minor accounts with AI," and said the bill also "prohibits AI from providing professional behavioral health services and must have protocols in place when a user discusses self harm." Representative Kershaw, who spoke in debate, expressed support for the intent but cautioned about enforcement capacity, asking whether the attorney general would have the resources to investigate and respond to complaints.

Representative Wichtendahl, a ranking member on the Economic Growth and Technology committee, urged passage and cited cases in which chatbots produced harmful guidance. "We are only beginning to understand the negative impacts that generative AI can have on our children," the lawmaker said, warning that protections for therapeutic chatbots may need expansion in future sessions.

The bill was read for the last time and passed; the clerk recorded 95 ayes, 0 no, and 5 absent or not voting. The title was agreed to before the House moved on to other business.

The measure will proceed to the governor’s desk according to the usual enrollment process.