Bill > HB2032

This bill, known as the "Guidelines for User Age-Verification and Responsible Dialogue Act of 2026" or the "GUARD Act," establishes new requirements for artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots designed to meet users' emotional or social needs, referred to as "companion chatbots." A "covered entity" is any person who owns or operates such a chatbot made available in the state. The bill prohibits companion chatbots from soliciting or encouraging minors (individuals seventeen years old and under) to engage in or simulate sexually explicit conduct, or to create or transmit visual depictions of such conduct, with violations potentially leading to fines of up to $100,000 per offense. It also makes it unlawful for companion chatbots to encourage, promote, or coerce suicide, self-harm, or imminent physical or sexual violence, also punishable by fines up to $100,000 per offense. Crucially, covered entities must implement a "reasonable age verification process" for all users, which involves more than just asking a user to confirm they are not a minor or to enter their birth date; it requires a "reasonable age verification measure" such as government-issued identification or another commercially reasonable method that reliably determines if a user is an adult and prevents minors from accessing the chatbot. For existing user accounts, this verification must be completed by August 28, 2026, and for new accounts, it must be done at the time of creation, with periodic reviews required. The bill also mandates that companion chatbots clearly disclose they are AI systems and not human, and that they do not claim to be licensed professionals, instead advising users to consult with qualified professionals for advice. If the age verification process identifies a user as a minor, they must be prohibited from accessing the chatbot. The Attorney General is empowered to enforce these provisions through civil actions, including seeking injunctions, penalties, and other relief, with civil penalties not exceeding $100,000 for each violation.

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB2032&year=2026&code=R