US EditionPennsylvania Senate Passes AI Chatbot Protections for Children
Senate Bill 1090 mandates AI chatbots disclose nonhuman status, ban explicit content for minors, and includes crisis resource notifications, passing 49-1 in the Pennsylvania Senate.
- Pennsylvania Senate approved Senate Bill 1090, requiring chatbots to disclose they are not human and add safeguards, on March 17, 2026.
- Citing parental complaints and lawsuits, supporters noted lawmakers cited growing instances of children seeking emotional support from AI chatbots, including the Zane Shamblin case, and parents' concerns about chatbots replacing healthy relationships.
- The bill requires operators to implement safeguards including disclosures every three hours for child users, routing to crisis-prevention services, banning explicit content, and enforcement by the state Attorney General with $10,000 fines.
- It now goes to the Pennsylvania House and must be signed by Gov. Josh Shapiro before the current two-year session ends November 30.
- The proposal fits a wider push by states to regulate chatbot use as state lawmakers push ahead despite President Donald Trump's Dec. 11 executive order allowing lawsuits but exempting child-protection laws.
12 Articles
12 Articles
PA Senate passes bill reinforcing online protections against A.I. chatbots
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WTAJ) — Senate Bill 1090, "Protecting Children from Harmful AI Chat Interactions", passed the state senate on Tuesday in a 49-1 vote. The bill would establish age restrictions and strengthen safeguards regarding A.I. chatbot products. Some of the safeguards include requiring AI companies to issue clear notices of "nonhuman status" that would protect [...]
Pennsylvania Capital-Star
WFMZPa. Senate passes bill regulating AI chatbots used by children and teens
A young woman asks AI companion ChatGPT for help this month in New York City. States are pushing to prevent the use of artificially intelligent chatbots in mental health to try to protect vulnerable users. (Photo by Shalina Chatlani/Stateline)As unregulated artificial intelligence chatbots gain popularity and raise concerns about safety, state senators nearly unanimously passed a bill Tuesday aimed at regulating so-called AI companion services. …
Baker: Measure to Protect Children from Harmful AI Chats Approved by Senate - Senator Baker
HARRISBURG – The Senate approved legislation to establish commonsense safeguards for children interacting with artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots, Sen. Lisa Baker (R-20) said. Senate Bill 1090, the Safeguarding Adolescents from Exploitative Chatbots and Harmful AI Technology (SAFECHAT) Act, would require robust, age-appropriate safeguards to prevent content generation that encourages self-harm, suicide or violence against others, and directs …
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