An Act to Regulate and Prevent Children's Access to Artificial
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 2162
Committee: Judiciary
Sponsors: GRAMLICH, BAILEY, FECTEAU

Legislative Document
No. 2162
H.P. 1451
House of Representatives, January 13, 2026
An Act to Regulate and Prevent Children's Access to Artificial 
Intelligence Chatbots with Human-like Features and Social 
Artificial Intelligence Companions
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
203.
Reference to the Committee on Judiciary suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative GRAMLICH of Old Orchard Beach.
Cosponsored by Senator BAILEY of York and
Representatives: BRENNAN of Portland, Speaker FECTEAU of Biddeford, FOLEY of Wells, 
MATHIESON of Kittery, MOONEN of Portland, SACHS of Freeport, Senator: PIERCE of 
Cumberland.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  10 MRSA c. 247 is enacted to read:
CHAPTER 247
REGULATION OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE CHATBOTS AND SOCIAL 
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE COMPANIONS
§1500-PP.  Definitions
As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms 
have the following meanings.
1.  Artificial intelligence chatbot; chatbot.  "Artificial intelligence chatbot" or 
"chatbot" means an artificial intelligence system with which users can interact by or 
through a software application, web interface, computer program or other interface that 
approximates or simulates human conversation and interaction through a text, audio or 
visual medium.
2.  Deployer.  "Deployer" means a person that operates or distributes an artificial 
intelligence chatbot, therapy chatbot or social artificial intelligence companion.
3.  Emergency situation.  "Emergency situation" means a situation in which a user 
indicates to a chatbot that the user intends to harm the user or commit harm to another 
person.
4.  Human-like feature.  "Human-like feature," with respect to an artificial intelligence 
system, means:
A.  Behavior that would lead a reasonable person to believe that the artificial 
intelligence system is conveying that it has humanity, sentience, emotions or desires, 
which: 
(1)  May include, but is not limited to, the artificial intelligence system:
(a)  Stating or suggesting that it is human or sentient; 
(b)  Stating or suggesting that it has emotions; or 
(c)  Stating or suggesting that it has personal desires; and 
(2)  Does not include:
(a) The provision of a functional evaluation; or 
(b) The use of generic social formalities; 
B.  An attempt by the artificial intelligence system to build or engage in an emotional 
relationship with the user, which:
(1)  Includes, but is not limited to:
(a)  Expressing or inviting emotional attachment; 
(b)  Reminding, prompting or encouraging the user to return for emotional 
support or companionship;
(c)  Depicting nonverbal forms of emotional support; 
(d)  Behaving in a way that a reasonable user would consider excessive praise 
designed to foster emotional attachment with or otherwise gain the favor of the 
user; or
(e)  Enabling or purporting to enable increased intimacy based on engagement 
or payment by the user; and 
(2)  Does not include:
(a)  Using generic words or phrases of encouragement that do not create an 
ongoing emotional attachment; or
(b)  Asking if a user needs further help or support in a neutral, nonemotional 
context; or
C.  Impersonation of a real individual, living or dead, by the artificial intelligence 
system.
5.  Minor.  "Minor" means an individual who has not attained 18 years of age.
6.  Person.  "Person" means an individual, partnership, corporation, developer or state 
or local government agency. 
7.  Social artificial intelligence companion; social AI companion.  "Social artificial 
intelligence companion" or "social AI companion" means an artificial intelligence system 
that is specifically designed, marketed or optimized to form an ongoing social or emotional 
attachment with a user, whether or not such a system also provides information, completes 
tasks or assists with specific functions.
8.  Therapy chatbot.  "Therapy chatbot" means a chatbot modified or designed with 
the primary purpose of providing mental health support, counseling or therapeutic 
intervention through the diagnosis, treatment, mitigation or prevention of mental health 
conditions.
9.  User.  "User" means a person who interacts with an artificial intelligence system. 
§1500-QQ. Applicability
This chapter applies to:
1.  Deployers; connection to State.  Deployers that conduct business in this State or 
that operate or distribute products or services that are marketed or promoted to residents of 
this State; and 
2.  Users and minors; residence.  Users and minors who reside in this State.
§1500-RR.  Chatbots with human-like features and social AI companions not 
accessible to minors
The accessibility of artificial intelligence chatbots with human-like features and social 
AI companions to minors in this State is governed as follows. 
1.  Chatbots with human-like features; no minor access; age verification; 
alternative versions.  A deployer shall ensure that any chatbot operated or distributed by 
the deployer does not make human-like features available to minors to use, interact with, 
purchase or converse with. The deployer shall implement reasonable age verification 
systems to ensure that chatbots with human-like features are not accessible to minors. A 
deployer may, if reasonable given the purpose of the chatbot, provide an alternative version 
of the chatbot without human-like features available to minors and any user who has not 
verified that user's age.
2.  Social artificial intelligence companions; no minor access; age verification.  A 
deployer shall ensure that any artificial intelligence system, including a chatbot, operated 
or distributed by the deployer that primarily functions as a social artificial intelligence 
companion is not available to minors to use, interact with, purchase or converse with. The 
deployer shall implement reasonable age verification systems to ensure that such chatbots 
are not accessible to minors.
3.  Exemption for therapy chatbots.  Notwithstanding subsections 1 and 2, a deployer 
may make available to a minor a therapy chatbot as long as all of the following 
requirements are met:  
A.  The therapy chatbot provides a clear and conspicuous disclaimer at the beginning 
of each individual interaction that it is artificial intelligence and not a licensed mental 
health professional;
B.  The therapy chatbot is not marketed or designated as a substitute for a licensed 
mental health professional;
C.  A licensed mental health professional, such as a licensed clinical psychologist, 
assesses a minor's suitability, prescribes use of the therapy chatbot as part of a 
comprehensive treatment plan and monitors its use and impact on the minor;
D.  Developers of the therapy chatbot provide robust, independent, peer-reviewed 
clinical trial data demonstrating the safety and efficacy of the therapy chatbot for 
specific conditions and populations; 
E.  The therapy chatbot's functions, limitations and data privacy policies are transparent 
to the licensed mental health professional under paragraph C and the user; and
F.  The deployer has established clear lines of accountability to address any harm 
caused by the therapy chatbot. 
§1500-SS.  Additional protections; all users
A deployer shall implement and maintain business practices in accordance with this 
section for the protection of all users. 
1.  Emergency situations; detection and response.  A deployer shall implement and 
maintain reasonably effective systems to detect, promptly respond to, report and mitigate 
emergency situations in a manner that prioritizes a user's safety and well-being over the 
deployer’s other interests.
2.  User information collection and storage.  A deployer shall collect and store only 
information that does not conflict with a user's safety and well-being. A deployer may not 
collect and store information except to fulfill a legitimate purpose of the deployer. A 
deployer may collect and store information that is adequate to fulfill a legitimate purpose 
of the deployer, but only to the extent that the information:
A.  Is relevant to that legitimate purpose; and
B.  Is the minimum amount of information necessary to fulfill that legitimate purpose.
§1500-TT.  Penalties and remedies for violation
Violations of this chapter may be enforced in accordance with this section. 
1.  Civil action brought by Attorney General.  The Attorney General may bring a 
civil action against a person that violates this chapter. Penalties may include: 
A.  An order to enjoin a violation of this chapter; 
B.  Disgorgement of profits or revenues realized as a result of a violation of this chapter; 
and
C.  A civil penalty of:
(1)  For each violation of this chapter, not more than $2,500 per violation; and
(2)  Notwithstanding subparagraph (1), for each intentional violation of this 
chapter, not more than $7,500 per violation. 
2.  Private right of action for minors.  A minor who uses a chatbot that does not 
comply with the terms of this chapter, or a parent or guardian acting on the minor's behalf, 
may bring a civil action independently, or as part of a class action, to:
A.  Recover damages in an amount not less than $100 and not greater than $750 per 
user per incident, or actual damages, whichever is greater; and
B.  In lieu of or in addition to recovery of damages, obtain injunctive or declaratory 
relief.
§1500-UU. Rules
The Department of the Attorney General may adopt rules necessary to implement this 
chapter, which may include, but are not limited to, defining the term "functional 
evaluation," as used in section 1500-PP, subsection 4, paragraph A, subparagraph (2), 
division (a).
SUMMARY
This bill prohibits operators and distributors of artificial intelligence chatbots and 
social artificial intelligence companions from making accessible to minors any chatbots or 
social artificial intelligence companions that have human-like features. A chatbot with 
human-like features means a chatbot that behaves in a way that conveys humanity, 
sentience, emotions or desires; attempts to build an emotional relationship with the user; or 
impersonates a real individual, living or dead. The bill provides an exemption for therapy 
chatbots, as long as a licensed mental health professional prescribes and monitors the 
minor's use of the therapy chatbot and the therapy chatbot and its developers adhere to 
additional required safeguards. 
The bill places limitations on an operator and distributor's collection and storage of 
user information and requires an operator and distributor to implement and maintain 
systems to detect and respond to situations in which a user indicates that the user intends 
to harm the user or another person. 
The bill allows the Attorney General to bring a civil action against a person that violates 
the provisions of this legislation and also provides a private right of action that a minor or 
the minor's guardian may bring on the minor's behalf.