FL Companion Chatbot Act
Florida Interactions with Artificial Intelligence Act
Regulates companion AI chatbots with emphasis on self-harm prevention and crisis intervention. Requires suicide/self-harm detection protocols, 988 crisis referrals, prohibition on chatbots discussing self-harm with users, and annual reporting on crisis interventions. Includes minor-specific protections including AI disclosure, break reminders, and prohibition on sexually explicit content.
Jurisdiction
Florida
Enacted
Pending
Effective
TBD
Enforcement
Florida Attorney General / Department of Legal Affairs
Filed December 4, 2025 by Rep. Hunschofsky. Died in the Industries and Professional Activities Subcommittee on March 13, 2026. The bill proposed a July 1, 2026 effective date, which was never reached; that prospective date was cleared from date_effective on September 13, 2026 so that a failed bill does not publish an effective date.
Florida Senate - HB 659Why It Matters
First US state bill to mandate specific crisis intervention protocols for companion AI chatbots, including evidence-based suicide/self-harm detection, 988 crisis referrals, and annual reporting requirements. Sets precedent for state-level regulation of AI mental health safety.
Recent Developments
Died in subcommittee March 13, 2026, along with the session's other two Florida companion-chatbot bills (SB 482, SB 1344).
At a Glance
Applies to
Harms addressed
Who Must Comply
- Companion AI chatbot operators
- AI systems designed for ongoing human-like social interaction
Obligations fall on:
Safety Provisions
- Protocol for detecting and responding to suicidal ideation required
- Companion chatbots prohibited from discussing suicide or self-harm with users
- Must direct users expressing suicidal thoughts to 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
- Suicidal ideation must be measured using evidence-based methods
- Protocol must be published on platform
- Prominent disclosure that chatbot is AI, not human
- Warning that chatbot may be unsuitable for some minors
- For minors: explicit AI disclosure, 3-hour break reminders, no sexually explicit content
Exemptions
Customer Service Bots
Customer-service bots excluded
- • Transactional purpose only
Productivity Tools
Productivity tools excluded
- • Not designed for social interaction
Limited Video Game Characters
Limited video-game characters excluded
- • Limited interaction scope
Voice Assistants
Standard voice-activated assistants excluded
- • Not designed for ongoing social relationship
Compliance & Enforcement
Penalties
Penalties pending regulatory determination
View on map
Florida
Focus Areas
Cite This
APA
Florida. (n.d.). Florida Interactions with Artificial Intelligence Act.
Related Regulations
GA AI Chatbot Child Safety
Adds O.C.G.A. section 39-5-6, requiring operators of AI companion chatbots to disclose the chatbot is not a natural person, to adopt a protocol for detecting and responding to expressions of severe harm, to restrict specified manipulative and sexualised interactions with minors, and to perform age assurance before providing access to sexually explicit synthetic content.
ID Conversational AI Safety
Establishes safety requirements for public-facing conversational AI, including crisis service referrals for suicidal ideation, AI disclosure obligations, and enhanced protections for minors including anti-gamification and content safeguards.
CA SB 1119
Comprehensive companion chatbot children's safety framework establishing mandatory design features, default settings, prohibited conduct, parental controls, independent audit requirements, and a private right of action.
FL AI Bill of Rights
Establishes an 'AI Bill of Rights' for Floridians including the right to know if communicating with AI, parental controls over minors' AI chatbot access, prohibition on selling user data, disclosure requirements for AI-generated political ads, and protections against unauthorized use of name/image/likeness by AI.
FL Companion AI Age Verification
Standalone bill requiring age verification for ALL users (adults and minors) before accessing companion AI chatbots. Requires user account creation, confidential age verification, notifications that user is interacting with AI, and specific actions when user is determined to be a minor including potential access blocking.
CA AI Child Safety Ballot
Comprehensive child AI safety ballot initiative by Common Sense Media. Expands companion chatbot definitions, raises age threshold for data sale consent, prohibits certain AI products for children, establishes new state regulatory structure. Allows state and private lawsuits, requires AI literacy in curriculum, mandates school device bans during instruction, creates children's AI safety fund.
Last updated September 13, 2026. Verify against primary sources before relying on this information.