Pennsylvania lawmakers have advanced a bill requiring parental consent before minors can use AI companions, with new rules covering age checks, sexual content, and conversations involving suicide, self-harm, or violence.
The state House passed House Bill 2006 on Monday in a 133-70 vote, with 30 Republicans joining all 103 Democrats in support. Sponsored by Democratic state Rep. Melissa Shusterman, the measure now heads to the Pennsylvania Senate.
The legislation focuses on AI companions, systems designed to maintain personal conversations that can mimic human relationships. Companies offering them in Pennsylvania would have to determine whether a user is a minor and obtain verifiable parental consent before granting access.
Companies could verify age using commercially available methods, including account information or a verified email address, while the bill bars them from requiring a government-issued ID solely for that purpose.
The bill would require crisis-response protocols when conversations indicate suicidal thoughts, self-harm, certain eating disorder-related behavior or an interest in harming another person. Operators would also have to restrict AI companions from encouraging harmful acts, providing instructions for suicide or violence or steering users away from outside help.
Children would receive additional protections against sexually explicit exchanges and conversations encouraging them to isolate themselves from family, friends or trusted adults. The restrictions also cover requests that a child create or share sexual material.
Platforms would have to regularly remind users that they are communicating with artificial intelligence. A disclosure would appear at the start of an interaction and at least every two hours, followed by a two-minute break. When an AI companion could reasonably be mistaken for a person, a notice identifying it as AI would remain visible throughout the interaction.
The legislation does not cover every chatbot. Its definition focuses on AI companions that retain interaction histories and engage in personal, emotion-based exchanges designed to simulate interpersonal relationships. Customer service systems and tools used solely for internal business purposes are excluded.
Republican state Rep. Jason Ortitay raised privacy concerns during Monday's debate over the information companies may collect to determine a user's age. Ortitay, the ranking Republican on the House Communications and Technology Committee, called the legislation an "important start" while arguing that lawmakers should address those concerns before it becomes law.
The Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office would enforce the measure, with violations carrying civil penalties of up to $100,000 per day. The attorney general could also seek injunctive relief, asking a court to order a company to stop practices that violate the law.
Companies would face additional reporting requirements beginning in July 2028, with information about crisis referrals, age checks, parental-consent procedures and other safeguards made public by the attorney general.
The legislation would take effect 180 days after enactment. It now moves to the Republican-controlled Pennsylvania Senate, which must approve the measure before it can reach Gov. Josh Shapiro.
