News-Senate-CHATBOT-Act-2026

On April 28, 2026, Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), John Curtis (R-Utah), and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) introduced the Children's Health, Advancement, Trust, Boundaries, and Oversight in Technology Act (CHATBOT Act, S.2714), bipartisan legislation that would require AI companies to establish "family accounts" allowing parents to manage and monitor their children's interactions with AI chatbots.

Key Provisions

The CHATBOT Act would:

• Require AI companies to establish "family accounts" for parental management of children's chatbot access
• Mandate parental consent before children can use AI chatbots
• Give parents tools to access and monitor a child's conversations with chatbots
• Limit manipulative design features targeting minors, including rewards, notifications, and engagement-driving mechanisms
• Prohibit targeted advertising to children through AI chatbot interfaces
• Direct the federal government to study potential chatbot-related harms to children and identify best practices for parents

Sponsor Statements

Chairman Cruz stated: "The rapid development of sophisticated chatbots has left many parents in the dark as powerful AI systems enter children's lives. Congress has an opportunity to put parents back in control."

Senator Schatz highlighted risks: "We've seen reports of AI chatbots encouraging kids to hurt themselves and for some, they're replacing real life relationships, isolating kids from their families and friends."

Senator Curtis emphasized: "Parents deserve both clarity and control over how their children interact with AI chatbots. Our bipartisan bill provides commonsense guardrails that prioritize kids' safety, limit manipulative design, and help ensure that parents — not algorithms — hold the reins."

Senator Schiff referenced "tragic consequences of quickly evolving AI chatbots which, in the worst cases, have encouraged self-harm, emotional dependency, violence, and exploitation of the youngest Americans."

Supporting Organizations

The legislation is supported by over 20 organizations including the American Federation of Teachers, Americans for Responsible Innovation (ARI), American Counseling Association, Encode AI, National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE), Enough Is Enough, Concerned Women for America, American Principles Project, and David's Legacy Foundation among others.

Significance

The CHATBOT Act represents one of the most significant federal legislative proposals addressing AI safety for minors in the 119th Congress. Its bipartisan sponsorship — spanning both parties and ideological factions — suggests a rare area of consensus in AI regulation. The bill's family account model mirrors approaches used in financial technology and social media regulation, adapted for the unique risks posed by conversational AI systems.

See Also

• California AB 2027 AI Worker Data Bill
• Meta EU Child Safety Violation