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 AssemblyWhy 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
Harms addressed
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
Cite This
APA
Pennsylvania. (n.d.). Pennsylvania Safeguarding Adolescents from Exploitative Chatbots and Harmful AI Technology Act (SB 1090).
Related Regulations
PA HB 2006
Would require operators of AI companions offered in Pennsylvania to run age assurance without demanding government identification, obtain verifiable parental consent before a minor can use a companion, display continuous and periodic non-human disclosures with mandated breaks, maintain published crisis protocols that refer users expressing suicidal ideation, self-harm, eating-disorder or harm-to-others intent to 988 and other crisis services, and prevent sexual content for minors. The Attorney General would enforce with civil penalties of up to $100,000 per day per violation.
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.
GA AI Chatbot Child Safety
Adds O.C.G.A. section 39-5-6, requiring operators of AI companion chatbots to disclose the chatbot is not a natural person, to adopt a protocol for detecting and responding to expressions of severe harm, to restrict specified manipulative and sexualised interactions with minors, and to perform age assurance before providing access to sexually explicit synthetic content.
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.
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.
Last updated March 27, 2026. Verify against primary sources before relying on this information.