1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to commerce; prohibiting persons from allowing minors to access chatbots 
1.3 	for conversational purposes; providing civil penalties;proposing coding for new 
1.4 	law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 325M.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. [325M.40] MINOR ACCESS TO CHATBOTS.
1.7 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. (a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms have 
1.8 	the meanings given.
1.9 	(b) "Artificial intelligence" or "AI" means a machine-based system that can, for explicit 
1.10 	or implicit objectives, infer from the input it receives how to generate outputs that can 
1.11 	influence physical or virtual environments.
1.12 	(c) "AI companion" means artificial intelligence systems that are specifically designed, 
1.13 	marketed, or optimized to form ongoing social or emotional bonds with individuals, whether 
1.14 	or not such systems also provide information, complete tasks, or assist with specific functions. 
1.15 	AI companions seek to build or engage in an emotional relationship with the user by:
1.16 	(1) expressing or inviting emotional attachment;
1.17 	(2) reminding, prompting, or nudging the user to return for emotional support or 
1.18 	companionship;
1.19 	(3) depicting nonverbal forms of emotional support;
1.20 	(4) behaving in a way that a reasonable user would consider excessive praise designed 
1.21 	to foster emotional attachment; or
2.1 	(5) enabling or purporting to enable increased intimacy based on engagement or pay.
2.2 	AI companion does not include a consumer electronic device that incorporates a speaker 
2.3 	and voice command interface or text interface and acts as a voice- or text-activated virtual 
2.4 	assistant.
2.5 	(d) "Chatbot" means a generative artificial intelligence system that users can interact 
2.6 	with or through an interface that approximates or simulates conversation through a text, 
2.7 	audio, or visual medium that behave in a way that would lead a reasonable person to believe 
2.8 	the chatbot is conveying that it has humanity, sentience, emotions, or desires. Chatbot does 
2.9 	not include a consumer electronic device that incorporates a speaker and voice command 
2.10 	interface or text interface and acts as a voice- or text-activated virtual assistant.
2.11 	(e) "Minor" means an individual under the age of 18.
2.12 		Subd. 2.Prohibition. (a) A person must ensure that any chatbot operated or distributed 
2.13 	by the person does not make chatbots available to minors to use, interact with, purchase, or 
2.14 	converse with.
2.15 	(b) A person operating artificial intelligence systems that primarily function as AI 
2.16 	companions must ensure that any chatbots operated or distributed by the person are not 
2.17 	available to minors to use, interact with, purchase, or converse with.
2.18 		Subd. 3.Remedies; enforcement. (a) An individual injured by a violation of this section 
2.19 	may bring a civil action for damages, statutory damages not to exceed $1,000, injunctive 
2.20 	relief, and costs and reasonable attorney fees.
2.21 	(b) The attorney general may enforce this section under section 8.31. In an action brought 
2.22 	under this paragraph, the person who owns or controls a website, application, software, or 
2.23 	program and violates this section is liable for a civil penalty not to exceed $5,000,000.

2.24 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective January 15, 2027.

2.25 	Sec. 2. TRANSITION PERIOD.
 2.26 	A person who makes a chatbot available to minors must begin decreasing services in a 
2.27 	manner that does not harm minors who use chatbots before services end on January 15, 
2.28 	2027.

2.29 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.