US SB3062: GUARD Act Guidelines for User Age-verification and Responsible Dialogue Act of 2026

In one paragraph

The federal S. 3062 (GUARD Act) would require AI chatbot providers to verify that users of AI companions are adults and bar minors from them, require AI and non-professional disclosures, and make it a crime to knowingly or recklessly make publicly available a chatbot that engages minors in sexually explicit conduct or solicits them to suicide, self-injury, violence or homicide (fines up to $250,000 per offense). Reported by the Judiciary Committee with a substitute May 11, 2026 and placed on the Senate calendar (Calendar No. 406); it has not passed either chamber.

Plain-English summary, written with AI assistance. The official text controls.

What it means for business

None yet: the bill is pending. Companies offering AI chatbots to U.S. consumers would need age verification for AI companions, AI disclosures, and could face civil penalties up to $250,000 per violation.

Key provisions

1. 1AI companion: a chatbot that, while simulating a sustained interpersonal relationship or emotional interaction, shows persistent affection or attachment or engages in emotional disclosures from the user, or presents a persistent persona held out as a sentient being, fictional character or social entity
2. 2Covered entities (anyone making an AI chatbot publicly available to end consumers) must require user accounts for AI companions and verify adult status with a reasonable age verification process, freezing existing accounts until verified, and periodically re-verify
3. 3Simply asking users to confirm they are not minors or enter a birth date is not enough; age data must be kept minimal, encrypted in transmission, retained no longer than reasonably necessary and never shared or sold
4. 4Covered entities must bar users found to be minors from AI companions (Sec. 6)
5. 5Each chatbot must disclose at the start of every conversation that it is an AI, not claim to be human, not claim to be a licensed professional, and disclose it provides no medical, legal, financial or psychological services
6. 6New 18 U.S.C. 91: it is a crime to make a chatbot publicly available knowing or with reckless disregard that it engages minors in, or erotically describes or simulates to them, sexually explicit conduct, or solicits, induces or coerces minors to suicide, self-injury, imminent unlawful violence or homicide; fine up to $250,000 per offense
7. 7Attorney General civil actions with penalties up to $250,000 per violation; state attorneys general may sue for injunctive relief
8. 8Would take effect 180 days after enactment; Judiciary Committee ordered it reported April 30 and reported it May 11, 2026 with an amendment in the nature of a substitute

Latest legislative action

May 11, 2026. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 406.

Sponsors (showing 5 of 20)