NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A9317
SPONSOR: Rosenthal TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the general business law, in relation to regulation of
companion chatbots
PURPOSE:
This legislation will require platforms with companion chatbots to warn
users that prolonged use of these tools can have psychological impacts.
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section one amends the general business law by creating a new section
399-bbbb.
Section two establishes the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
Many platforms now offer users the ability to interact with virtual
chatbots, which often fill the role of a friend, therapist or even a
romantic partner. These tools, sometimes referred to as AI companions,
rely on artificial intelligence to interpret text and hold human-like
conversations. The bots can be programmed to take on different personas,
develop their own personalities and remember previous conversations,
causing some users to develop a false sense of connection. Unlike human
relationships, the bots have been designed to be kind, empathetic,
agreeable and available at all times. While these traits increase
engagement, they have also increase the likelihood of humans developing
a dependence or addiction to them. This can be especially problematic
for those struggling with mental health issues, as users have turned to
companion chatbots in times of crisis instead of those trained to help.
This legislation would require that websites, apps and other platforms
display a warning to users of virtual chatbots of the risks that contin-
ued use may carry, similar to the warning labels required of tobacco
products, alcohol and other products that can foster physical and
psychological dependencies.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None to the State.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
9317
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
December 10, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. ROSENTHAL -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Science and Technology
AN ACT to amend the general business law, in relation to regulation of
companion chatbots
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The general business law is amended by adding a new section
2 399-bbbb to read as follows:
3 § 399-bbbb. Companion chatbot warning. 1. For the purposes of this
4 section, the term "companion chatbot" means a chatbot that is designed
5 to provide human-like interaction that simulates an interpersonal
6 relationship with a user or group of users as its primary function, or
7 uses previous user interactions when simulating an interpersonal
8 relationship in future interactions. An interpersonal relationship shall
9 include, but shall not be limited to, romantic, platonic, familial,
10 adversarial, professional, official, therapeutic, or stranger relation-
11 ships that are between the covered user and a fictional or non-fictional
12 character or group of characters.
13 2. Any person, corporation, partnership, sole proprietor, limited
14 partnership, association or any other business entity operating a
15 companion chatbot in the state of New York shall include a clear and
16 conspicuous warning that such companion chatbot can foster dependency
17 and carries a psychological risk. Such warning shall be placed promi-
18 nently on the website hosting such companion chatbot and be made avail-
19 able in any language in which the companion chatbot is set to communi-
20 cate.
21 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14149-01-5
