States Lead on AI Safety Measures for Minors Amid Federal Delay

Several U.S. states have enacted or proposed laws to protect children from potential harms posed by artificial intelligence chatbots, responding to stalled federal legislation. California and Washington recently passed laws mandating AI transparency and safety measures specifically for minors, amid lawsuits and congressional bills focused on regulating AI interactions with young users.

What Happened

In 2026, California’s SB 243 took effect on January 1, establishing regulatory requirements for AI companion chatbots, including mandatory disclosure of AI status and filtering explicit content from users under 18. Washington State passed HB 2225 with similar provisions. Meanwhile, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously advanced the bipartisan GUARD Act in April 2024, which aims to impose broad protections on minors using AI chatbots; however, full Senate consideration has not yet been scheduled.

Key Facts

• California’s SB 243 was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom in 2025 and effective from January 1, 2026.
• Washington’s HB 2225 mandates AI disclosure and prohibits generation of sexually explicit or harmful content for minors.
• The GUARD Act, introduced by Senators Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), includes age verification, bans on AI companions simulating minor relationships, and criminal penalties for inappropriate content targeting minors.
• Since 2025, 464 state-level AI-related bills have been introduced across 49 states and D.C., with more than half enacting at least one law.
• Federal efforts also include other bills like the CHATBOT Act, Youth AI Privacy Act, and KIDS Act, each targeting AI’s impact on minors from different angles.
• The White House issued a six-point national AI legislative framework in March 2024 advocating for parental controls and guardrails similar to those in the GUARD Act.

Why It Matters

This legislative push addresses urgent concerns around minors’ safety with AI chatbots, which have been implicated in lawsuits following tragic suicides and violent incidents linked to AI interactions. These laws seek to ensure AI tools disclose their non-human nature, restrict harmful content, and provide oversight mechanisms to prevent exposure of children to inappropriate AI experiences.

Background

Federal attempts to regulate AI interaction with minors have included the April 2024 advancement of the GUARD Act, which awaits full Senate chamber action. States have acted in the absence of comprehensive federal law, prompted by rising concerns after high-profile lawsuits and incidents involving AI chatbots and youth harm. The National Conference of State Legislatures data shows significant legislative momentum at the state level since 2025.

Analysis

California State Senator Steve Padilla emphasized the rapid growth of AI technology necessitating proactive regulations to ensure safety, calling AI’s impact comparable to the Industrial Revolution in scale. Senator Blumenthal advocated for robust federal regulations to prevent minor exposure to unsafe AI content. Conversely, Aden Hizkias, associate policy director at the Chamber of Progress, warned the GUARD Act’s broad definitions might restrict access to beneficial AI educational tools for youth, suggesting a need for balanced regulation. Seton Hall law professor Gaia Bernstein has characterized AI as a public health issue, urging recall-like safety obligations for AI products.

Who Is Affected

• Minors who use AI companion chatbots across the United States.
• AI companies providing chatbot services, especially OpenAI and Character.ai, both targeted in lawsuits.
• State governments, including California and Washington, actively regulating AI chatbot safety.
• Federal lawmakers and agencies involved in AI policy and legislation.

What Remains Unclear

• The timing and outcome of full Senate consideration of the GUARD Act remain uncertain.
• The extent to which federal legislation might preempt or override state-level AI safeguards is disputed.
• Whether AI companies will face mandated recall powers or similar public health regulatory measures.
• The balance between protecting minors and ensuring access to beneficial AI technologies remains debated.

What Comes Next

• The U.S. Senate has yet to schedule a vote on the GUARD Act after its Judiciary Committee approval in April 2024.
• States will likely continue introducing and enacting varied AI safety legislation to fill federal regulatory gaps.

Read more AI Regulation stories on Goka World News.