HI AI Chatbot Safety

Hawaii Chatbot Safety for Protection of Minors (HB 1782)

Requires AI chatbot operators to disclose non-human status at session start and hourly for minors, and to implement suicide and self-harm response protocols.

Jurisdiction

Hawaii

Enacted

Pending

Effective

TBD

Enforcement

TBD

Passed House unanimously on March 10, 2026. Companion bill SB 3001 passed Senate same day. Both now in opposite chambers. Legislature adjourns May 7, 2026.

Hawaii State Legislature

Why It Matters

Notable for broader scope than most state chatbot bills: applies to general conversational AI services, not limited to companion or character chatbots.

Recent Developments

Both HB 1782 and companion SB 3001 passed their respective chambers unanimously on March 10, 2026. Now crossing over.

At a Glance

Applies to

AI CompanionCharacter ChatbotGeneral Chatbot

Harms addressed

Suicide Self-Harm

Requires

Active Detection Crisis Resources Transparency

Who Must Comply

Conversational AI service operators
General conversational AI providers (broader scope than most companion-only bills)

Obligations fall on:

Safety Provisions

AI disclosure at start of each session
Hourly AI disclosure reminders for minors
Suicide and self-harm response protocols
Break reminders for extended sessions

Primary Source

Hawaii State Legislature

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=1782&year=2026

View on map

Hawaii

Focus Areas

Mental health & crisis

Child safety

Active safeguards required

Cite This

APA

Hawaii. (n.d.). Hawaii Chatbot Safety for Protection of Minors (HB 1782).

Related Regulations

Pending US-HI

HI SB 3001

Establishes disclosure, safety, and reporting requirements for conversational AI services broadly (not limited to companion chatbots), with a focus on minor protections and suicide-related harms.

Pending US-ID

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.

Enacted US-WA

WA AI Companion Act

Washington bill requiring AI companion chatbots to implement safeguards to detect and respond to user expressions of self-harm, suicidal ideation, or emotional crisis. Mandates clear disclosure that chatbot is AI (not human) with additional protections for minors. Sponsored by Senators Wellman and Shewmake at Governor Ferguson's request.

In Effect US-HI

HI Deepfakes Act

Prohibits distribution of materially deceptive media (deepfakes) in elections from February 1 through general election without disclaimer. Criminalizes violations with escalating penalties from petty misdemeanor to Class C felony if intent to cause violence. Private right of action for candidates, depicted individuals, and voter advocacy organizations.

Enacted US-NH

NH HB 143

Criminalizes use of AI-generated responsive communications to facilitate, encourage, or solicit harmful acts to children, and creates a private right of action for affected children and their parents.

Proposed US-CA

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.

All regulations Check if this applies to you

Last updated March 23, 2026. Verify against primary sources before relying on this information.