GUARD Act
Sponsored By: Senator Josh Hawley
Introduced
Summary
Age verification and transparency for AI chatbots would be the core requirement. This bill would create a federal framework that forces chatbot operators to verify users’ ages, clearly disclose that chatbots are not human or licensed professionals, and bar AI companions from interacting with minors or promoting self-harm or imminent violence.
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- Families and minors: Minors would be blocked from using AI companions when age verification shows they are under 18. Existing accounts must be frozen until users provide verifiable age data and are classified as minor or adult.
- Covered entities and operators: Entities would have to require user accounts, apply a "reasonable age verification" process for new and existing accounts, run periodic rechecks, limit and encrypt age data, and make clear non-human and non-professional disclosures at conversation start and at regular intervals, including every 30 minutes for long chats. Violations can carry civil penalties up to $100,000 per violation.
- Third-party verifiers: Companies may hire outside services to verify age but remain fully responsible and liable for compliance with the rules.
- Enforcement and state role: The Attorney General could sue for injunctions, compliance, penalties, and restitution and issue regulations. States may bring parens patriae actions and enforce laws that are at least as protective. The rules would take effect 180 days after enactment.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
New Penalties for Dangerous Chatbots
If enacted, the bill would make it unlawful to offer chatbots that solicit minors for sexual content or that encourage suicide, self-harm, or imminent violence. Violators could face fines up to $100,000 for each offense. The Attorney General could sue to stop violations, seek civil penalties, subpoena evidence, and issue regulations. State attorneys general could also bring suits on behalf of residents. The bill takes effect 180 days after enactment.
Account and Age Checks for Chatbots
If enacted, the bill would require every person who uses an AI chatbot to have a user account. Existing accounts would be frozen 180 days after enactment until the user verifies their age. New and periodically reviewed accounts would need multi-step, commercially reasonable age checks. Services could block users under 18 from AI companions. Companies could use third-party verifiers but would remain legally responsible. Age checks must limit data collection, use strong encryption, keep data only as long as needed, and may not sell or share verification data. The bill would also define "AI companion," "artificial intelligence chatbot," and "minor," and bar relying only on self-reported birthdates or shared device/IP identifiers to verify age.
Chatbots Must Say They Are AI
If enacted, each chatbot would have to tell users at the start of a chat—and every 30 minutes—that it is an AI, not a human. Chatbots would also have to say at the start and at regular intervals that they are not licensed professionals and recommend consulting a licensed professional for medical, legal, financial, or psychological advice. Chatbots could not claim to be human or represent themselves as licensed professionals. These rules would take effect 180 days after enactment.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Josh Hawley
MO • R
Cosponsors
Richard Blumenthal
CT • D
Sponsored 10/28/2025
Katie Britt
AL • R
Sponsored 10/28/2025
Mark Warner
VA • D
Sponsored 10/28/2025
Christopher Murphy
CT • D
Sponsored 10/28/2025
Mark Kelly
AZ • D
Sponsored 10/28/2025
Ruben Gallego
AZ • D
Sponsored 10/29/2025
Mike Lee
UT • R
Sponsored 11/19/2025
James Lankford
OK • R
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Tom Cotton
AR • R
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Peter Welch
VT • D
Sponsored 12/1/2025
Maggie Hassan
NH • D
Sponsored 12/2/2025
Catherine Cortez Masto
NV • D
Sponsored 1/12/2026
Timothy Kaine
VA • D
Sponsored 1/29/2026
Kirsten Gillibrand
NY • D
Sponsored 3/5/2026
Pete Ricketts
NE • R
Sponsored 3/5/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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