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Pending Law AI Safety

PA SAFECHAT Act

Pennsylvania Safeguarding Adolescents from Exploitative Chatbots and Harmful AI Technology Act (SB 1090)

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.

Jurisdiction

Pennsylvania

Enacted

Pending

Effective

TBD

Enforcement

Pennsylvania Attorney General

Passed Senate 49-1 on March 17, 2026. Pending House consideration.

Pennsylvania General Assembly

Why It Matters

Comprehensive AI chatbot child safety law requiring active crisis detection and intervention. One of the most detailed state-level frameworks for AI chatbot safety obligations.

Recent Developments

Passed Pennsylvania Senate 49-1 in March 2026. Advancing to House.

At a Glance

Applies to

AI CompanionCharacter ChatbotGeneral Chatbot Minors-focused

Who Must Comply

  • AI chatbot operators
  • Conversational AI service providers

Obligations fall on:

Safety Provisions

  • Clear and conspicuous disclosure that user is interacting with AI
  • Crisis resource redirection when high-risk language detected (self-harm, suicide, violence)
  • Periodic break reminders for minors
  • Prohibition on generating sexually explicit content for minors
  • Age-appropriate safeguard requirements

Compliance & Enforcement

Penalties

$10K/violation

View on map

Pennsylvania

Focus Areas

Mental health & crisis
Child safety
Active safeguards required

Cite This

APA

Pennsylvania. (n.d.). Pennsylvania Safeguarding Adolescents from Exploitative Chatbots and Harmful AI Technology Act (SB 1090).

Related Regulations

Pending US-PA

PA AI Mental Health Therapy Act

Imposes explicit prohibitions on AI systems making therapeutic judgments, generating treatment plans without human review, or simulating emotional interaction. Violations treated as unprofessional conduct under Commonwealth licensing laws.

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.

In Effect UK

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.

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.

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.

All regulations Check if this applies to you

Last updated March 27, 2026. Verify against primary sources before relying on this information.