GUARD Act
Sponsored By: Senator Hawley, Josh [R-MO]
In Committee
Summary
This bill would create a federal regulatory and enforcement regime for AI chatbots and companions. It focuses on strong protections for minors, strict age verification, required disclosures that systems are not human or licensed professionals, data-security rules, and civil and criminal penalties.
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- Families and minors: Minors (under 18) would be barred from using AI companions unless robust age verification shows they are adults. The bill makes it illegal for chatbots to engage minors in sexually explicit conduct, to solicit self-harm, or to promote imminent physical violence.
- Providers and platforms: Covered entities must require user accounts, perform robust verification for new and existing accounts, and may freeze accounts until verification. Acceptable checks include government IDs, financial-account or app-store signals, and other commercial methods; companies remain liable even if they hire third-party verifiers and must protect and limit retention of verification data.
- Enforcement and legal remedies: The Attorney General can seek injunctions, compliance orders, restitution, and civil penalties and can issue implementing rules. State attorneys general can sue on behalf of residents and state laws that are at least as protective remain enforceable. Penalties may reach up to $250,000 per violation, with some criminal caps at $100,000.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Age checks, accounts, and data rules
If enacted, companies that offer AI companions would require user accounts and verify that each user is an adult. Existing accounts would be frozen when the law takes effect until the user is re‑verified. Verification must use reliable methods beyond just a birthdate and may include ID checks, financial or app-store signals, or other commercially reasonable methods. Verification data must be minimized, encrypted, stored only as long as needed, and may not be shared or sold. Covered companies could hire third‑party verifiers but would remain legally responsible and could not use verifiers affiliated with a listed "covered nation." The Act would start 180 days after enactment.
Stronger enforcement and criminal fines
If enacted, it would be a crime to offer an AI chatbot that knowingly or recklessly gives sexual content to minors or that solicits minors to self‑harm or commit violence. Criminal fines could reach $250,000 per offense. The Attorney General could bring civil suits, seek injunctions, and impose civil penalties up to $250,000 per violation and order other relief. State attorneys general could sue on behalf of residents. The Act would let states keep and enforce laws that are at least as protective as the federal rules.
Required AI labeling and warnings
If enacted, every AI chatbot conversation would begin with a clear statement that the user is talking to an AI, not a human. The chatbot would repeat that disclosure at regular intervals, described as about every 30 minutes. The chatbot would also have to say at the start and at reasonable intervals that it is not a licensed medical, legal, financial, or psychological professional and that users should consult licensed professionals for such services. Chatbots could not represent themselves as licensed professionals or claim to be human.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Hawley, Josh [R-MO]
MO • R
Cosponsors
Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
CT • D
Sponsored 10/28/2025
Katie Britt
AL • R
Sponsored 10/28/2025
Sen. Warner, Mark R. [D-VA]
VA • D
Sponsored 10/28/2025
Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT]
CT • D
Sponsored 10/28/2025
Sen. Kelly, Mark [D-AZ]
AZ • D
Sponsored 10/28/2025
Sen. Gallego, Ruben [D-AZ]
AZ • D
Sponsored 10/29/2025
Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT]
UT • R
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Sen. Lankford, James [R-OK]
OK • R
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR]
AR • R
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Peter Welch
VT • D
Sponsored 12/1/2025
Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH]
NH • D
Sponsored 12/2/2025
Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]
NV • D
Sponsored 1/12/2026
Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA]
VA • D
Sponsored 1/29/2026
Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
NY • D
Sponsored 3/5/2026
Sen. Ricketts, Pete [R-NE]
NE • R
Sponsored 3/5/2026
Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN]
TN • R
Sponsored 3/11/2026
Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
RI • D
Sponsored 3/17/2026
Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
IL • D
Sponsored 4/17/2026
Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]
DE • D
Sponsored 5/11/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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