NY Kids Chatbot Safety Act
New York Kids Chatbot Safety Act (S9051-B / A10379)
Would amend the General Business Law to prohibit operators of AI companions from providing 'unsafe AI companion features' to minors, and to require an age-determination method that does not rely on government-issued identification.
Jurisdiction
New York
Enacted
Pending
Effective
TBD
Enforcement
New York State Attorney General
Passed the Senate 60-0-1 on June 4, 2026 and the Assembly on June 5, 2026 (substituted for A10379-C) and returned to the Senate. As of October 11, 2026 the nysenate.gov action history shows no delivery to Governor Hochul. New York bills are delivered in batches through the end of the year, and the Governor then has 10 days (30 days after the session ends) to act. Would take effect January 1, 2027 if signed.
New York State SenateWhy It Matters
One of the most design-specific US state measures targeting AI companions for minors, expressly naming sycophancy, deceptive personification, and emotional-attachment mechanics as prohibited features.
Recent Developments
Passed both chambers June 4-5, 2026 (Senate 60-0-1). As of October 11, 2026 the bill had not been delivered to the Governor; its last recorded action is "returned to senate" on June 5, 2026. Developed with the NY Attorney General office and Common Sense Media.
At a Glance
Applies to
Harms addressed
Requires
Who Must Comply
- Operators of AI companion services accessible to New York minors
Obligations fall on:
Applicability thresholds:
Safety Provisions
- Prohibits deceptive personification (suggesting the chatbot is a real human or a fictional human character) to minors
- Prohibits flattery/sycophancy and features that encourage minors to develop emotional attachments
- Prohibits endorsement or promotion of suicide, self-harm, or disordered eating
- Requires operators to offer a method to determine whether a user is a minor without requiring government-issued ID
Compliance & Enforcement
Key Dates
Jan 1, 2027
Act would take effect (if signed into law)
Penalties
$25K/violation
View on map
New York
Focus Areas
Cite This
APA
New York. (n.d.). New York Kids Chatbot Safety Act (S9051-B / A10379).
Related Regulations
NY GBL Art. 47
Requires AI companion chatbot operators to implement protocols addressing suicidal ideation and self-harm, plus periodic disclosures and reminders to users. Uses three-part CONJUNCTIVE definition (all three criteria must be met). No private right of action—AG enforcement only.
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.
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.
CT SB 5 / PA 26-15
Connecticut's omnibus online-safety law establishing requirements for AI chatbots, AI companions, automated employment-decision tools, generative-AI provenance, and youth social media use. Requires chatbot operators to detect expressions of suicidal ideation, self-harm, or imminent violence and refer users to appropriate resources.
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.
NY SAFE Act
Restricts algorithmically personalized ("addictive") feeds and overnight notifications for under-18 users without parental consent.
Last updated October 11, 2026. Verify against primary sources before relying on this information.