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119-hr-6489119th CongressWALLET

SAFE BOTs Act

Sponsored By: Representative Houchin, Erin [R-IN-9]

In Committee

Summary

Protecting minors from harmful chatbot interactions. This bill would require clear AI labeling and safety controls for chatbots used by children, and it pairs enforcement with a federal study of mental-health effects.

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  • Families and minors: Would require chatbots to disclose they are AI at the first interaction and when asked, and to provide suicide and crisis hotline resources if a minor raises suicidal thoughts. The rules apply to users who are under 17 and must use plain language appropriate for children.
  • Chatbot providers: Would ban presenting a chatbot to a minor as a licensed professional unless that claim is true. Providers would also need policies to prompt a break after 3 hours of continuous use and to address sexual material harmful to minors, gambling, and illegal drugs, tobacco, or alcohol.
  • Enforcement and research: Would treat violations as unfair or deceptive acts enforceable by the Federal Trade Commission and would let States bring parens patriae suits with notice to the FTC. The bill would also require a four-year National Institutes of Health study on chatbot impacts on minor mental health with reports to Congress.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

New safety and disclosure rules for kids

If enacted, chatbots would have to tell a minor they are an AI at the first chat and whenever asked. If a minor asks about suicide, the chatbot would provide crisis hotline resources in plain, age‑appropriate language. Chatbots could not present themselves as licensed professionals to minors unless that is true. Providers would need policies to tell minors to take a break after 3 hours of nonstop chatting and to address sexual material, gambling, and illegal drugs, tobacco, or alcohol. These rules would start one year after enactment.

Who counts as a chatbot user

If enacted, the bill would define key terms for chatbot rules. A "minor" would be anyone under 17. A "covered user" would be someone the provider knows is a minor, or would know but ignores. Services with only an incidental chat feature would not automatically be treated as chatbot providers. The law would say sexual material harmful to minors includes child pornography and other clearly offensive sexual depictions.

NIH 4-year study on chatbots and kids

If enacted, the NIH would run a 4‑year study on how chatbots affect minors' mental health. The study would look at loneliness, anxiety, social skills, isolation, depression, self‑harm, and suicidal thoughts. NIH must consult mental‑health experts, technologists, ethicists, and educators. A report with results and recommendations would be due to Congress not later than four years after enactment.

Federal enforcement, state suits, preemption

If enacted, violations of the new chatbot rules would be treated as unfair or deceptive acts under the FTC Act, letting the FTC use its normal enforcement powers. The FTC enforcement authority would apply one year after enactment. States could also sue on behalf of residents (parens patriae) to block violations, get damages, or seek injunctions. States must notify the FTC before filing, and the FTC may intervene. Federal law would override any state or local law that covers the same topics when it comes into effect.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Houchin, Erin [R-IN-9]

IN • R

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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