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NM HB 174

New Mexico HB 174 (Chatbot Safety Act)

Proposed but failed to pass — would have regulated companion AI products serving minors in New Mexico, introduced in response to documented harms including the Adam Raine case.

Jurisdiction

New Mexico

Enacted

Pending

Effective

TBD

Enforcement

New Mexico Attorney General (proposed)

Introduced in the 2026 New Mexico Legislative Session. Did not pass before session end. Bill would have regulated companion AI products targeting minors.

New Mexico Legislative Watch — HB 174

Why It Matters

Notable early state-level attempt to regulate companion AI products for minors framed around documented youth harms. Though it failed, it represents the New Mexico AG's position and may be reintroduced in a future session.

Recent Developments

Failed to pass in the 2026 session. AG Raúl Torrez expressed support for analogous federal legislation (GUARD Act). Bill was developed with input from technology policy advocate Ifeoma Ozoma.

At a Glance

Applies to

AI CompanionCharacter Chatbot Minors-focused

Requires

Who Must Comply

  • Operators of companion AI products in New Mexico

Safety Provisions

  • Disclosure obligations for companion AI products
  • Minor-specific protections
  • Operator accountability for harmful outputs

Compliance & Enforcement

Penalties

Did not pass; penalty structure not enacted.

View on map

New Mexico

Focus Areas

Mental health & crisis
Child safety

Cite This

APA

New Mexico. (n.d.). New Mexico HB 174 (Chatbot Safety Act).

Related Regulations

Pending US-ID

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.

Enacted US-OR

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.

Pending US-MD

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.

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.

In Effect BR

Brazil ECA Digital

Comprehensive child digital safety law applying to any IT product or service directed at or likely to be accessed by minors in Brazil, with extraterritorial reach.

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.

Last updated April 16, 2026. Verify against primary sources before relying on this information.