Summary: HR 8382 (119th Congress) — Prohibition on AI Chatbots in Certain Children’s Products

Purpose and Intent

• HR 8382, introduced by Rep. Blake Moore (with Moore as sponsor) on April 20, 2026, seeks to prohibit the manufacture, importation, sale, or distribution of certain children’s products that incorporate an artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot.
• The aim is to restrict interactive AI-driven features embedded in items intended for children, such as toys or child care articles, effective 180 days after enactment.

Key Provisions

Prohibition (Section 1(a))

• Beginning 180 days after enactment, no person may:
  • Manufacture for sale in the United States
  • Import into the United States
  • Sell or otherwise convey to another person
  • Offer to sell
  • Distribute in commerce any “children’s toy” or “child care article” that includes as part of the product an AI chatbot.
• Scope targets products that incorporate chatbot technology as a component of the toy or article.

Enforcement (Section 1(b))

• Violations are to be treated as violations under the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA), specifically section 19 (15 U.S.C. 2068), implying existing CPSA enforcement mechanisms apply (which can include recalls, penalties, and other regulatory actions).

Definitions (Section 1(c))

• Artificial Intelligence; Machine Learning: Defined per the National AI Initiative Act of 2020 (15 U.S.C. 9401, section 5002).
• Chatbot: A technology using AI or ML to engage in interactive conversations with a user.
• Child Care Article; Children’s Toy: Defined according to terms in the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (15 U.S.C. 2057c(g)(1)).

Who/What Is Affected

• The prohibition covers products that are:
  • Intended for children (child care articles and children’s toys as legally defined)
  • Incorporate an AI chatbot as part of the product’s functionality
• Stakeholders likely affected include manufacturers, importers, retailers, and distributors of children’s toys and child care articles that contain AI chatbot features.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

• Effective date: 180 days after enactment of HR 8382.
• Enforcement: Violations treated as CPSA Section 19 violations, enabling typical CPSA enforcement actions (e.g., recalls, penalties, and other remedies under that statute).
• Status: Introduced in the House on April 20, 2026; referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Co-sponsor listed as Rep. Blake Moore.

Practical Implications

• Manufacturers and importers of children’s products with embedded AI chatbots would need to remove or modify such features to comply.
• Retailers would face liability for distributing non-compliant products post-enactment.
• The bill aligns with concerns about safety, privacy, and child development by removing AI-driven interactive elements from certain kids’ products.

Notes for Readers

• The bill does not prohibit AI or chatbots in other contexts (e.g., educational software used outside of physical child-focused products) unless those items fall under “children’s toy” or “child care article” definitions.
• The definitions reference established U.S. law for AI/ML and consumer product safety, ensuring consistency with broader regulatory vocabularies.