ME LD 2162
An Act to Regulate and Prevent Children's Access to Artificial Intelligence Chatbots with Human-like Features and Social Artificial Intelligence Companions
Failed Maine bill that would have prohibited deployers from making AI chatbots with human-like features or social AI companions available to minors, and required deployers to detect, respond to, report, and mitigate situations where minors indicate intent to self-harm or harm others.
Jurisdiction
Maine
Enacted
Pending
Effective
TBD
Enforcement
Maine Attorney General (proposed)
Died on adjournment April 29, 2026. Bill received three favorable 'Ought to Pass As Amended' divided committee reports (Amendments C-A, C-B, C-C) and was placed on the Special Appropriations Table on April 13, 2026 pending the 2/3 vote required for emergency enactment, but the 132nd Legislature adjourned before a floor vote occurred. Would need reintroduction in 2027.
Maine Legislature - LD 2162 / HP 1451 Status PageWhy It Matters
Although the bill failed, its three committee-blessed versions illustrate the policy menu emerging in US states for companion AI regulation: outright minor-access bans paired with active crisis detection duties and private rights of action. The proposed structure influenced subsequent state proposals and remains a reference point for legislators considering similar frameworks.
Recent Developments
Died on adjournment April 29, 2026 after three favorable committee reports failed to reach a floor vote. Notable as one of the most aggressive proposed companion-AI safety frameworks in the United States, combining outright bans on minor access, mandatory crisis detection, and a private right of action. Sets a template likely to be reintroduced in subsequent sessions.
At a Glance
Who Must Comply
- Persons operating or distributing chatbots for commercial purposes (deployers)
- AI systems with natural language interface approximating human conversation
Obligations fall on:
Safety Provisions
- Prohibition on making chatbots with human-like features (claiming sentience, emotions, desires, or building emotional relationships) available to minors
- Prohibition on making 'social AI companions' (systems designed to form ongoing social/emotional attachment) available to minors
- Mandatory crisis detection and response systems for self-harm and harm-to-others ideation by minors
- Reasonable age verification requirements
- Permitted alternative versions without human-like features for minor access
- Exemption for therapy prescribed and monitored by licensed professionals
Exemptions
Licensed Therapeutic Use
Therapy prescribed and monitored by licensed professionals would have been exempt
- • Prescribed by licensed professional
- • Monitored by licensed professional
Compliance & Enforcement
Penalties
Proposed but not enacted: AG civil penalties up to $2,500 per violation, up to $7,500 per intentional violation. Private right of action: $100-$750 per incident or actual damages (whichever greater), maximum $50,000 per minor, class action permitted.
Private Right of Action
Individuals can sue directly without waiting for regulatory action.
View on map
Maine
Focus Areas
Cite This
APA
Maine. (n.d.). An Act to Regulate and Prevent Children's Access to Artificial Intelligence Chatbots with Human-like Features and Social Artificial Intelligence Companions.
Related Regulations
PA SAFECHAT Act
Mandates age-appropriate safeguards for AI chatbots interacting with minors, including crisis resource redirection when high-risk language is detected and disclosure that users are interacting with AI.
OR SB 1546
Requires AI chatbot operators to implement evidence-based suicide and self-harm detection protocols, disclose AI nature to users, provide crisis referrals to 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, and apply additional protections for minors including prohibiting deceptive personification.
MD HB 952
Regulates companion chatbot operators with mandatory disclosures, harm detection, and crisis referral protocols for self-harm and suicidal ideation, backed by product liability and a private right of action.
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.
UK OSA
One of the most comprehensive platform content moderation regimes globally. Creates specific duties around suicide, self-harm, and eating disorder content for children with 'highly effective' age assurance requirements.
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 May 10, 2026. Verify against primary sources before relying on this information.