As Congress stalls, states step in on AI protection legislation for minors

While congressional legislation on this front is stalled, U.S. states are advancing legislation to protect minors in AI. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures database, since 2025, 49 states and the District of Columbia have introduced a total of 464 bills involving chatbot safeguards, and more than half of the states have passed at least one law. California SB 243 is the first law specifically regulating AI companion chatbots and protecting minors, signed by Governor Newsom last year, effective January 1, 2026, requiring disclosure of non-human identity, identification of suicidal ideation and referral to appropriate resources, and filtering of pornographic content for minor users. At the federal level, the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously passed the bipartisan GUARD Act in April, requiring age verification, banning AI companions for minors, and imposing criminal penalties on companies that provide pornographic content to minors; it is now awaiting full Senate consideration. Florida this month became the first state to sue OpenAI, with the complaint alleging that a shooter sought advice from ChatGPT before committing the crime.