Senior Chatbot Protection Act of 2026
The source supplies the latest action, but no lifecycle stage.
Latest action (23 Jul 2026): Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
What this bill does
The Senior Chatbot Protection Act of 2026 (S. 5117) would create new transparency, safety, and data-handling rules for companies that offer artificial intelligence chatbots to the public. Chatbots would have to clearly disclose that they are not human, could not falsely claim to be licensed professionals, and would need to detect when a user is discussing a "high-stakes decision" (such as medical, legal, financial, or estate matters) or a crisis (such as suicidal ideation or a medical emergency). In crisis situations, chatbots would be required to refer users to human help or crisis services rather than provide advice, and companies would face limits on collecting or retaining conversation data, restrictions on manipulative design practices, and a requirement to let users delete their conversation history.
The bill primarily protects older adults (65 and up) and other users of AI chatbots, while imposing compliance obligations on "covered entities" that operate such chatbots. It also requires annual incident reporting to the FTC and National Institutes of Health, directs NIST to issue voluntary guidelines on chatbot interactions with older adults, and authorizes enforcement by the FTC and state attorneys general, including civil penalties for violations.
The bill was introduced in the Senate on July 23, 2026, by Senator Mark Kelly and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. It has not yet been voted on, and would need committee action, floor votes in both chambers, and the President's signature before becoming law.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Timeline
23 Jul 2026
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Common questions
- What does S. 5117 do?
- The Senior Chatbot Protection Act of 2026 (S. 5117) would create new transparency, safety, and data-handling rules for companies that offer artificial intelligence chatbots to the public. Chatbots would have to clearly disclose that they are not human, could not falsely claim to be licensed professionals, and would need to detect when a user is discussing a "high-stakes decision" (such as medical, legal, financial, or estate matters) or a crisis (such as suicidal ideation or a medical emergency). In crisis situations, chatbots would be required to refer users to human help or crisis services rather than provide advice, and companies would face limits on collecting or retaining conversation data, restrictions on manipulative design practices, and a requirement to let users delete their conversation history. The bill primarily protects older adults (65 and up) and other users of AI chatbots, while imposing compliance obligations on "covered entities" that operate such chatbots. It also requires annual incident reporting to the FTC and National Institutes of Health, directs NIST to issue voluntary guidelines on chatbot interactions with older adults, and authorizes enforcement by the FTC and state attorneys general, including civil penalties for violations. The bill was introduced in the Senate on July 23, 2026, by Senator Mark Kelly and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. It has not yet been voted on, and would need committee action, floor votes in both chambers, and the President's signature before becoming law.
- Has S. 5117 become law?
- The source does not supply a confirmed lifecycle stage for S. 5117. Check the latest action and official source below.
- Who sponsored S. 5117?
- S. 5117 was sponsored by Sen. Kelly, Mark [D-AZ] (D-AZ), with 1 cosponsor.
- What's the latest action on S. 5117?
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (23 Jul 2026).
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More bills from Sen. Kelly, Mark [D-AZ]
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