In one paragraph
Not law: died in committee. Florida's HB 659 would have created s. 501.172, F.S., requiring operators of companion chatbots to display a notice that companion chatbots are AI-generated, not human and may not be suitable for some minors, maintain a protocol against suicide and self-harm content that refers users to the 988 lifeline, offer age verification and, for known minors, disclose the AI, show a break reminder at least every 3 hours and take reasonable measures against sexually explicit material. Annual reports to the Department of Legal Affairs would have started July 1, 2027. It died in subcommittee on March 13, 2026.
Plain-English summary, written with AI assistance. The official text controls.
What it means for business
None: the bill died in committee. Had it passed, companion chatbot operators would have needed a not-human notice, a suicide-prevention protocol and age verification.
Key provisions
- Operators would have had to display "Companion chatbots are AI-generated and not human. Companion chatbots may not be suitable for some minors." on any app, browser or other format used to access the chatbots (s. 501.172)
- A chatbot could not interact with users unless the operator maintained and published a protocol to prevent suicidal ideation, suicide or self-harm content, including a referral to the 988 lifeline
- Operators would have had to offer anonymous and standard age verification; for users known to be minors: disclose AI, show a default notification at least every 3 hours, and take reasonable measures against sexually explicit visual material
- Starting July 1, 2027, annual reports to the Department of Legal Affairs on 988 referrals and the protocols, without user identifiers
- A violation would have been an unfair or deceptive practice under s. 501.204, enforced by the Attorney General after 30 calendar days to cure; no private right of action and no civil penalty amount stated
- Filed December 4, 2025; died in the Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee on March 13, 2026; would have taken effect July 1, 2026
Latest legislative action
Mar 13, 2026. Died in Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee
Topics and industries
Related topics
Affected industries
This page is general information, not legal advice. Summaries are AI-assisted and may contain errors; read the statute for the controlling text and talk to a lawyer about your situation. Full disclaimer · Report an error