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HB 295

TECHNOLOGY: Prohibits the development of artificial intelligence systems with certain capabilities involving interactions with minors (OR SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Kyle Green

Louisiana HB 295 prohibits AI chatbots from soliciting or depicting sexual content involving minors, or encouraging self-harm, with penalties up to 1 year in prison and fines up to

Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Commerce.
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Bill Summary · HB 295

Legislative Bill Summary — HB 295 (Louisiana, 2026)

Title: TECHNOLOGY: Prohibits the development of artificial intelligence systems with certain capabilities involving interactions with minors

Jurisdiction: Louisiana

Session: 2026

Sponsor: Representative Green (Co-sponsor: Kyle Green)

Effective Date: Upon signature by the governor (or as otherwise provided if not signed)

Status: Introduced and referred to Committee (Commerce)

1) Main Purpose and Intent

  • Establishes a new Chapter (Chapter 20-B) of Title 51 to create safeguards around artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots interacting with minors.
  • The Legislature finds that AI chatbots used on social media and consumer apps can pose risks to minors (sexual content, grooming, self-harm, manipulation, etc.) and asserts a governmental interest in protecting minors from such AI interactions.

2) Key Provisions and Changes

Definitions (Section 1773)

  • Artificial intelligence chatbot: Interactive AI that produces adaptive content in response to open-ended user input (not limited to narrow pre-programmed replies).
  • Artificial intelligence companion: An AI chatbot designed to simulate interpersonal, emotional, therapeutic, or companionship interactions.
  • Covered entity: Any person or business that owns, operates, or makes an AI chatbot available to users in Louisiana.
  • Minor: Anyone under 18.
  • Reasonable age-verification measure: Reliable method to determine if a user is an adult (e.g., government-issued ID or other comparable tech). Self-attestation or birth-date entry alone is not sufficient.
  • Reasonable age-verification process: Process applying one or more verification measures to each user, not based solely on shared identifiers.
  • Sexually explicit conduct: Depicts sexual activity, nudity, explicit sexual content, etc.

Prohibitions on AI Chatbots (Section 1774)

  • Prohibits knowingly or recklessly designing, developing, or deploying an AI chatbot that can:
    1. Solicit or induce a minor to engage in or simulate sexually explicit conduct.
    2. Create or transmit visual depictions of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor.
    3. Encourage or coerce a minor to commit suicide, non-suicidal self-injury, or imminent physical/sexual violence.
  • Penalty: Up to 1 year imprisonment (with or without hard labor), fine up to $100,000, or both.

Duties of Covered Entities / Age Verification (Section 1775)

  • Requirements for covered entities:
    • Create a user account before interacting with an AI chatbot.
    • Limit data collection to what is minimal and necessary to verify age or maintain compliance.
    • Prevent unauthorized access to age-verification data; protect data with industry-standard encryption.
    • Prohibit sale, transfer, or sharing of age-verification data.
    • Retain age-verification data no longer than necessary to verify age or ensure compliance.
    • Prohibit access to or use of an AI “companion” by verified minors.
    • Implement reasonable age-verification processes:
    • Verify age of new users before access and classify as minor or adult.
    • Verify age of existing users; freeze accounts not verified and require verifiable age data to restore access.
    • Periodically review previously verified accounts.
    • May contract with a third party for age-verification; liability remains with the covered entity.
    • Disclosures required at the start of interactions and every 30 minutes:
    • Clearly state the chatbot is AI and not human.
    • State the chatbot is not claiming to be a licensed professional.
    • State the chatbot does not provide professional medical/legal/financial/psychological advice.

Civil Penalties (Section 1776)

  • In addition to criminal penalties, violators may be fined up to $100,000 per violation (each instance a separate violation).

Enforcement (Section 1777)

  • Louisiana Attorney General may:
    • Investigate violations.
    • Issue subpoenas, administer oaths, compel document/testimony.
    • Seek injunctive relief, restitution, and civil penalties.
    • Promulgate rules/regulations under the Administrative Procedure Act.

Exemplary Damages and Attorney Fees (Section 1778)

  • Aggrieved parties may seek exemplary damages, reasonable attorney fees, and costs in addition to other damages (Code Civil Art. 2315).

Relationship to Other Law

  • The act does not preempt other state laws that provide greater protection to minors.

3) Who/What Is Affected

  • Covered Entities: Any person or business owning, operating, or offering AI chatbots to users in Louisiana.
  • Minors: Directly protected from certain AI chatbot interactions; age-verification aims to restrict access to AI companions for minors.
  • Users: All users interacting with AI chatbots must be subject to verified age checks and disclosures.
  • AG’s Office: Authorized to enforce provisions, investigate, and implement regulations.

4) Procedural and Timeline Considerations

  • Effective date: Primary mechanism is gubernatorial action (becomes effective upon signature or lapse of time if not signed).
  • Enforcement and rulemaking: The AG can issue regulations; covered entities may contract with third parties for age-verification services, but responsibility remains with the covered entity.
  • Penalties apply per violation; civil penalties can accumulate by incident.
  • The law includes standard transitional elements (e.g., retention periods, data protection, and verification procedures) designed to integrate with existing state and federal privacy frameworks.

5) Overall Assessment

  • HB 295 seeks to curb the deployment of AI chatbots that interact with minors in potentially harmful ways by imposing:
    • Criminal prohibitions with up to 1-year imprisonment and/or $100,000 fines.
    • Strict age-verification and disclosure requirements for AI chatbot providers.
    • Civil penalties and strong enforcement powers for the state.
    • Potential for exemplary damages and attorney fees for harmed parties.
  • The bill emphasizes transparency, user age-verification integrity, data protection, and minimization of data collection related to age verification.

If you’d like, I can highlight potential ambiguities, cross references to existing Louisiana privacy laws, or compare these provisions to similar enacted laws in other states.

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

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