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*hb0952*
HOUSE BILL 952
I3, O4 6lr1717
By: Delegate Buckel Delegates Buckel, Qi, Adams, Amprey, Arentz, Bhandari,
Boafo, Charkoudian, Fennell, Howard, S. Johnson, Pippy, Pruski, Queen,
Roberts, Rogers, Rose, Turner, Valderrama, and Wivell
Introduced and read first time: February 5, 2026
Assigned to: Economic Matters
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
House action: Adopted
Read second time: March 7, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Consumer Protection – Companion Chatbots – Regulation 2
FOR the purpose of requiring certain operators of companion chatbots to establish, 3
maintain, and publish certain protocols and provide certain information to users of 4
the companion chatbot; requiring operators to establish enhanced measures for 5
minor users of companion chatbots; limiting the amount and type of data an operator 6
may collect; limiting the way an operator may use certain data; requiring an operator 7
to establish and maintain a complaint system; requiring the Office of Suicide 8
Prevention in the Maryland Department of Health to annually publish certain data 9
compiled from operators; establishing that a violation of this Act is an unfair, 10
abusive, or deceptive trade practice subject to enforcement and penalty provisions 11
under the Maryland Consumer Pr otection Act; establishing that a chatbot is 12
considered a product for certain product liability actions; and generally relating to 13
the regulation of companion chatbots. 14
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 15
Article – Commercial Law 16
Section 13–301(14)(xlvii) 17
Annotated Code of Maryland 18
(2025 Replacement Volume) 19
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 20
Article – Commercial Law 21
2 HOUSE BILL 952
Section 13–301(14)(xlviii) 1
Annotated Code of Maryland 2
(2025 Replacement Volume) 3
BY adding to 4
Article – Commercial Law 5
Section 13–301(14)(xlix) and 14–1330 6
Annotated Code of Maryland 7
(2025 Replacement Volume) 8
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 9
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 10
Article – Commercial Law 11
13–301. 12
Unfair, abusive, or deceptive trade practices include any: 13
(14) Violation of a provision of: 14
(xlvii) Title 14, Subtitle 50 of this article; [or] 15
(xlviii) Section 13–411.1(c)(2) of the Transportation Article; or 16
(XLIX) SECTION 14–1330 OF THIS ARTICLE; OR 17
14–1330. 18
(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE F OLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 19
INDICATED. 20
(2) “ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGEN CE” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 21
3.5–801 OF THE STATE FINANCE AND PROCUREMENT ARTICLE 15–10B–05.1 OF 22
THE INSURANCE ARTICLE. 23
(3) (I) “COMPANION CHATBOT ” MEANS AN ARTIFICIAL 24
INTELLIGENCE SYSTEM WITH A NATURAL LANGU AGE INTERFACE THAT P ROVIDES 25
ADAPTIVE, HUMAN–LIKE RESPONSES TO USER INPUTS AND IS CAPABLE OF MEETING 26
A USER ’S SOCIAL NEEDS , INCLUDING BY EXHIBIT ING ANTHROPOMORPHIC 27
FEATURES AND BEING ABLE TO SU STAIN A RELATIONSHIP ACROSS MULTIPLE 28
INTERACTIONS. 29
(II) “COMPANION CHATBOT” DOES NOT INCLUDE: 30
HOUSE BILL 952 3
1. A BOT THAT IS USED BY A BUSINESS ENTITY ONLY FOR 1
CUSTOMER SERVICE, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, BUSINESS ANALYTICS, OR INTERNAL 2
RESEARCH; 3
2. A BOT THAT: 4
A. IS A FEATURE OF A VID EO GAME, SERVICE, SYSTEM, 5
OR APPLICATION THAT IS NOT A COMPANION CHATBOT; 6
B. IS LIMITED TO REPLIES RELATED TO THE VIDEO 7
GAME, SERVICE, SYSTEM, OR APPLICATION; AND 8
C. DOES NOT SHARE CONTEN T RELATED TO MENTAL 9
HEALTH, SELF–HARM, SUICIDAL IDEATION , SUICIDE, OR SEXUALLY EXPLICIT 10
CONDUCT; OR 11
3. A BOT THAT IS DESIGNED FOR BUSINESS 12
PRODUCTIVITY OR INTERNAL BUSINESS USE; OR 13
4. A CONSUMER ELECTRONIC DEVICE THAT: 14
A. FUNCTIONS AS A SPEAKE R AND A VOICE COMMAND 15
INTERFACE; 16
B. ACTS AS A VOICE–ACTIVATED VIRTUAL ASSISTANT; 17
C. DOES NOT SUSTAIN A RE LATIONSHIP ACROSS 18
MULTIPLE INTERACTIONS; AND 19
D. DOES NOT GENERATE OUTPUTS THAT ARE LIKELY TO 20
ELICIT EMOTIONAL RESPONSES FROM THE USER. 21
(4) “DE–IDENTIFIED DATA” HAS THE MEANING STATED IN § 14–4401 22
OF THIS TITLE. 23
(4) (5) “MINOR USER” MEANS A USER OF A CO MPANION CHATBOT 24
THAT AN OPERATOR KNOWS OR REASONABLY SHOULD KNOW IS A MINOR. 25
(5) (6) “OFFICE” MEANS THE OFFICE OF SUICIDE PREVENTION IN 26
THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. 27
(6) (7) “OPERATOR” MEANS A PERSON WHO MAKES A COMPANION 28
CHATBOT AVAILABLE TO A USER IN THE STATE. 29
4 HOUSE BILL 952
(8) (I) “PERSONAL DATA ” MEANS ANY INFORMATIO N THAT IS 1
LINKED OR CAN BE REA SONABLY LINKED TO AN IDENTIFIED OR IDENTI FIABLE 2
CONSUMER. 3
(II) “PERSONAL DATA” DOES NOT INCLUDE: 4
1. DE–IDENTIFIED DATA; OR 5
2. PUBLICLY AVAILABLE INFORMATION. 6
(7) (9) “SEXUALLY EXPLICIT CON DUCT” HAS THE MEANING 7
STATED IN 18 U.S.C. § 2256. 8
(8) (10) “VIDEO GAME” MEANS A GAME PLAYED ON AN ELECTRONIC 9
DEVICE THAT: 10
(I) UTILIZES A COMPUTER , A MICROPROCESSOR, OR SIMILAR 11
ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY AND A MONITOR , OR THAT IS DESIGNED TO BE PLAYED 12
USING A TELEVISION OR A COMPUTER MONITOR; AND 13
(II) INTERACTS WITH THE IN DIVIDUAL PLAYING THE GAME, 14
INCLUDING THROUGH A CHATBOT. 15
(B) (1) AN OPERATOR SHALL EST ABLISH AND MAINTAIN A PROTOCOL 16
FOR PREVENTING A COM PANION CHATBOT FROM PRODUCING OR PRESENT ING 17
CONTENT CONCERNING S ELF–HARM, SUICIDAL IDEATION, OR SUICIDE TO A USER 18
WHO EXPRESSES THOUGH TS OF SELF–HARM OR SUICIDAL IDE ATION TO THE 19
COMPANION CHATBOT. 20
(2) THE PROTOCOL REQUIRED UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS 21
SUBSECTION SHALL INC LUDE A NOTIFICATION TO A USER WHO EXPRES SES 22
THOUGHTS OF SELF –HARM OR SUICIDAL IDE ATION THAT REFERS TH E USER TO A 23
CRISIS SERVICE PROVIDER, INCLUDING: 24
(I) THE MARYLAND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS RESPONSE 25
SYSTEM; AND 26
(II) THE NATIONAL 9–8–8 SUICIDE AND CRISIS LIFELINE. 27
(3) AN OPERATOR SHALL USE EVIDENCE–BASED METHODS FOR 28
DETECTING WHEN A USER IS EXPRESSING THOUGHTS OF SELF–HARM OR SUICIDAL 29
IDEATION TO A COMPANION CHATBOT. 30
HOUSE BILL 952 5
(4) AN OPERATOR SHALL PUBLISH THE PROTOCOL REQUIRED UNDER 1
PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION ON THE OPERATOR’S WEBSITE. 2
(C) (1) AN OPERATOR SHALL EST ABLISH AND MAINTAIN A PROTOCOL 3
FOR PREVENTING A COMPANION CHATBOT FROM PRODUCING OR PRESENTING TO A 4
MINOR USER CONTENT CONCERNING SEXUALLY EXPLICIT CONDUCT, INCLUDING: 5
(I) VISUAL DEPICTIONS OF SEXUALLY EXPLICIT CONDUCT; AND 6
(II) CONTENT SUGGESTING TH AT THE MINOR USER SH OULD 7
ENGAGE IN SEXUALLY EXPLICIT CONDUCT. 8
(2) AN OPERATOR SHALL PUBLISH THE PROTOCOL REQUIRED UNDER 9
PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION ON THE OPERATOR’S WEBSITE. 10
(D) AN OPERATOR SHALL DIS PLAY A CLEAR AND CON SPICUOUS WARNING 11
TO A USER STATING THAT COMPANION CHATBOTS: 12
(1) ARE ARTIFICIALLY GENERATED AND NOT HUMAN; AND 13
(2) MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR SOME MINORS. 14
(E) AN OPERATOR SHALL DIS PLAY TO A MINOR USER A CLEAR AND 15
CONSPICUOUS WARNING AFTER 3 HOURS OF CONSECUTIVE USE, AND EVERY 3 16
HOURS THEREAFTER: 17
(1) STATING THAT COMPANION CHATBOTS A RE ARTIFICIALLY 18
GENERATED AND NOT HUMAN; AND 19
(2) RECOMMENDING THAT THE USER TAKE A BREAK FROM USING THE 20
COMPANION CHATBOT. 21
(E) A DEVELOPER SHALL ESTA BLISH AND PROVIDE TO A USER OF THE 22
OPERATOR’S CHATBOT CLEAR AND CONSPICUOUS WARNINGS THAT THE CHATBOT IS 23
ARTIFICIALLY GENERATED AND NOT HUMAN THROUGH THE USE OF BOTH: 24
(1) A STATIC, PERSISTENT WARNING THAT CONTINUOUSLY APPEARS 25
ON THE SCREEN; AND 26
(2) A DYNAMIC WARNING THAT POPS UP ON THE SCREE N AND 27
REQUIRES A USER TO RESPOND: 28
(I) AT THE START OF THE U SER’S INTERACTION WITH T HE 29
CHATBOT; 30
6 HOUSE BILL 952
(II) AFTER EVERY HOUR OF T HE USER ’S CONTINUOUS 1
INTERACTION WITH THE CHATBOT; AND 2
(III) WHEN PROMPTED BY THE USER IN A MANNER THA T 3
QUESTIONS HOW THE CHATBOT FUNCTIONS OR PROVIDES RESPONSES. 4
(F) (1) A CONTROLLER SHALL LIM IT THE COLLECTION OF PERSONAL 5
DATA TO WHAT IS REASONABLY NECESSARY AND PROPORTIONATE TO SATISFY THE 6
REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SUBTITLE. 7
(2) A CONTROLLER MAY NOT U SE DATA REGARDING EM OTIONAL 8
STATE OR MENTAL HEAL TH VULNERABILI TIES TO TAILOR ALGOR ITHMS TO 9
INCREASE THE DURATION OR FREQUENCY OF USE OF A CHATBOT. 10
(G) (1) A CONTROLLER SHALL ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN A COMPLAINT 11
SYSTEM THAT ENABLES A USER TO REPORT CONTENT PRODUCED OR PRESENTED BY 12
A CHATBOT THAT VIOLATES THIS SECTION. 13
(2) WITHIN 3 CALENDAR DAYS AFTER A COMPLAINT IS FILED UNDER 14
PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION, THE CONTROLLER SHALL: 15
(I) REVIEW THE CONTENT REPORTED; 16
(II) TAKE ALL REASONABLE STEPS TO: 17
1. REMOVE ANY CONTENT TH AT VIOLATES THIS 18
SECTION; AND 19
2. PREVENT ANY FURTHER P RESENTATION OR 20
PRODUCTION OF THE CONTENT IN A MANNER THAT VIOLATES THIS SECTION; AND 21
(III) REPORT THE COMPLAINT AND THE RESULTS OF T HE 22
REVIEW TO THE OFFICE. 23
(F) (H) (1) ON OR BEFORE MARCH 1 EACH YEAR, BEGINNING IN 2027, 24
AN OPERATOR SHALL REPORT TO THE OFFICE: 25
(I) INFORMATION ON THE PR OTOCOLS REQUIRED UND ER 26
SUBSECTIONS (B) AND (C) OF THIS SECTION; 27
(II) THE NUMBER OF TIMES T HE OPERATOR HAS ISSU ED A 28
NOTIFICATION UNDER SUBSECTION (B)(2) OF THIS SECTION; AND 29
HOUSE BILL 952 7
(III) DETAILS ABOUT THE MET HODS USED UNDER SUBS ECTION 1
(B)(3) OF THIS SECTION; AND 2
(IV) ALL COMPLAINTS FILED UNDER SUBSECTION (G) OF THIS 3
SECTION, INCLUDING THE RESULTS OF THE REVIEW OF EACH COMPLAINT AND ANY 4
FOLLOW–UP ACTIONS TAKEN. 5
(2) THE REPORT REQUIRE D UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS 6
SUBSECTION MAY NOT CONTAIN ANY PERSONAL IDENTIFYING INFORMATION ABOUT 7
A USER. 8
(3) ON OR BEFORE JULY 1 EACH YEAR , BEGINNING IN 2027, THE 9
OFFICE SHALL: 10
(I) COMPILE DATA FROM THE REPORTS SUBMITTED UN DER 11
PARAGRAPH (1) OF TH IS SUBSECTION FOR TH E IMMEDIATELY PRECED ING 12
CALENDAR YEAR; AND 13
(II) PUBLISH THE DATA ON THE OFFICE’S WEBSITE. 14
(G) (I) (1) A VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION IS: 15
(1) (I) AN UNFAIR , ABUSIVE, OR DECEPTIVE TRADE P RACTICE 16
WITHIN THE MEANING OF TITLE 13 OF THIS ARTICLE; AND 17
(2) (II) SUBJECT TO THE ENFORC EMENT AND PENALTY 18
PROVISIONS CONTAINED IN TITLE 13 OF THIS ARTICLE, EXCEPT § 13–411 OF THIS 19
ARTICLE. 20
(2) IN ADDITION TO THE REMEDIES CONTAINED IN TITLE 13 OF THIS 21
ARTICLE, A CHATBOT SHALL BE CONSIDERED A PRODUCT FOR WHICH: 22
1. AN OPERATOR AND A DEV ELOPER HAVE AN AFFIR MATIVE 23
DUTY TO ENSURE DOES NOT INJURE OR HARM A USER; 24
2. AN OPERATOR OR A DEVE LOPER MAY BE HELD ST RICTLY 25
LIABLE FOR CAUSING INJURY OR HARM TO A USER; AND 26
3. AN INDIVIDUAL MAY BRING AN ACTION FOR A DESIGN 27
DEFECT, A MANUFACTURING DEFECT, OR A MARKETING DEFECT. 28
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 29
October 1, 2026. 30