A new bipartisan proposal in Congress would create some of the clearest federal guardrails yet for kids using AI chatbots, reflecting rising concern about the impact of conversational AI on children’s safety and well-being. According to Axios, the newly introduced CHATBOT Act—sponsored by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii)—would require AI companies to offer “family accounts” for children under 13 that give parents more control over how minors interact with chatbot tools. The bill would mandate parental consent, set high-safety defaults for younger users, and limit addictive or manipulative engagement features for kids.
Axios frames the legislation as part of a broader push on Capitol Hill to move AI policy forward while avoiding constitutional pitfalls—especially First Amendment challenges that have complicated other youth online-safety proposals. The CHATBOT Act is positioned as an attempt to focus on practical product requirements (controls, defaults, safety settings) rather than regulating speech directly.
Even with bipartisan momentum, Axios notes there is still uncertainty about how far Congress will go on AI regulation this year, particularly as the Trump administration signals interest in more innovation-friendly oversight. For behavioral health stakeholders, the bill is a notable marker: lawmakers are explicitly zeroing in on children’s chatbot use and the safeguards needed to reduce harm.
Read More: https://www.axios.com/2026/04/28/congress-ramps-up-bipartisan-ai-efforts