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HB 1742

Establishes provisions relating to companion chatbots

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Scott Miller

Missouri HB 1742 would regulate companion chatbots, focusing on safety, transparency, data privacy, and consumer protections for users and providers.

Referred: Emerging Issues(H)
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Bill Summary · HB 1742

Summary of HB 1742 (Missouri, 2026)

Purpose and intent

HB 1742 establishes provisions relating to companion chatbots. The bill appears designed to regulate the use, deployment, and oversight of chatbot systems that may be used as “companion” tools, potentially including interactions with individuals for social, informational, or supportive purposes. The exact statutory language is not provided here, but the bill’s stated focus is on companion chatbots and related governance within Missouri.

Key provisions and changes (as implied by title and context)

  • Regulation scope: Creates or clarifies rules governing companion chatbot technologies. This likely covers definitions, permissible uses, and governance frameworks for chatbots intended to interact with humans in a social or companionship context.
  • Safety and transparency requirements: The bill may require disclosures about chatbot nature (that the user is interacting with a non-human agent), data handling practices, and safety measures to prevent harm or manipulation.
  • Data privacy and security: Provisions may address how data collected by companion chatbots can be stored, used, shared, retained, or deleted, with attention to user privacy and protection of sensitive information.
  • Accountability and oversight: May establish compliance mechanisms, potential reporting obligations, and penalties for noncompliance. Could involve a regulatory agency or a designated oversight process.
  • Consumer protections: Could include rights for users to opt out of certain data practices, recourse for misuse, and requirements that chatbot functionality adhere to certain standards to prevent exploitation or deception.
  • Standards and interoperability: Possible alignment with broader tech or AI governance standards in Missouri, including interoperability or certification processes for lawful deployment of companion chatbots.

Who would be affected

  • Users and consumers interacting with companion chatbots in Missouri, including individuals seeking social or supportive interactions from chatbots.
  • Businesses, developers, and providers of chatbot technology operating in Missouri, who may need to ensure compliance with the new rules.
  • Organizations deploying chatbot-based services (e.g., customer support, mental health or wellness apps, education tools) that function as companions.
  • Regulatory or enforcement bodies responsible for monitoring compliance and handling violations.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Prefiled: The bill was prefiled on December 1, 2025.
  • First Reading: January 7, 2026 (H).
  • Second Reading: January 8, 2026 (H).
  • Referred: Emerging Issues (H) on May 15, 2026.
  • Status indicates progression through the House with committee involvement, but no further actions (e.g., passage or final status) are provided in the available record.

Notes and considerations

  • Specifics such as definitions (e.g., what constitutes a “companion chatbot”), exact regulatory requirements, penalties, and enforcement mechanisms are not included in the available summary. The actual bill text would provide precise language, thresholds, and timelines.
  • As a newly introduced measure with an Emerging Issues committee referral, the bill may undergo amendments that refine scope, exclusions (e.g., purely informational chatbots vs. emotionally supportive functions), and compliance timelines.

If you’d like, I can tailor this to focus on particular stakeholders (industry, consumers, or regulators) or compare it to existing Missouri AI/consumer protection statutes once you provide the full text or specific sections of HB 1742.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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