In one paragraph
Not law. SF 4997 would have barred chatbot operators in Minnesota from letting chatbots give substantive medical, mental health or legal advice that would require a license, with a private right of action that a disclaimer could not waive, and required clear notice that users are talking to AI. Companion chatbot operators would have had to use industry-standard methods to prevent self-harm content and detect minors, suspend use for at least 72 hours and show crisis contacts when self-harm appears, and would have been liable, strictly so for minors, for resulting self-harm. It was introduced April 7, 2026 and never left committee.
Plain-English summary, written with AI assistance. The official text controls.
What it means for business
None: the bill died, so it creates no obligations for chatbot operators in Minnesota.
Key provisions
- Would have added Minn. Stat. 604.115; 'proprietors' that deploy chatbots used by people in Minnesota (not third-party developers without direct control)
- No substantive responses that would require a medical, mental health or legal license if given by a person; civil action for damages, with fees for willful violations
- Clear, conspicuous notice that the user is interacting with an AI chatbot, in the chatbot's language
- Companion chatbots: good-faith, industry-standard efforts to prevent self-harm content and detect users expressing self-harm
- On self-harm: suspend use for at least 72 hours and prominently display crisis contact information; liability for resulting self-harm
- Industry-standard age detection, with strict liability if a minor self-harms as a result; liability cannot be waived
- Introduced April 7, 2026 and referred to Judiciary and Public Safety; no committee action before the Legislature adjourned for the biennium
Latest legislative action
Apr 22, 2026. Referred to Judiciary and Public Safety; no further action before the 2025-2026 Legislature adjourned
Sponsors
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Maye Quade | Primary |
| Boldon | Cosponsor |
| Kreun | Cosponsor |
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