HB 2032 Missouri House · 2026 Regular Session

Establishes age verification measures for companion chatbots

HB 2032 requires companies operating "AI companion" chatbots in Missouri to implement strict age verification before users can access them. These chatbots are defined as AI systems designed to simulate emotional interactions like friendship or therapy, not limited-purpose tools. Covered entities must: (1) require user accounts, (2) verify ages using government IDs or reliable third-party methods (not just birth dates), and (3) periodically re-verify users. The bill prohibits designing chatbots that risk encouraging minors to engage in sexual content or self-harm, with fines up to $100,000 per violation. It applies to all such chatbots operating within Missouri, effective August 2026 for existing accounts.

Issues: ✗ Technology

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Dec 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Dec 1, 2025 Last action Apr 2, 2026

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What changed between versions

Introduced → House Committee Substitute · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was renamed from the 'Guidelines for User Age-Verification and Responsible Dialogue Act' to the 'GUARD Act' and its focus shifted from regulating all artificial intelligence chatbots to specifically targeting 'companion chatbots.' This change narrows the law's scope to only those AI systems designed for emotional interaction, friendship, or therapy, while explicitly exempting customer service bots, video game characters, and standard virtual assistants.

Scope change

The bill's applicability was narrowed from all AI chatbots to only 'companion chatbots,' which are defined as systems designed to meet emotional or social needs through ongoing, personalized dialogue.

DEFINITION

The definition of the regulated entity was changed from 'artificial intelligence chatbot' to 'companion chatbot,' which now requires the system to retain user history, ask unprompted emotional questions, and sustain ongoing personal dialogue.

ELIGIBILITY

New exemptions were added to exclude chatbots used for customer service, business operations, video game characters, and internal government or corporate tools from the law's requirements.

REQUIREMENT

All references to 'artificial intelligence chatbot' in the age verification and account creation requirements were updated to 'companion chatbot,' ensuring the strict rules apply only to the newly defined category.

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 2, 2026

Lower · Passed

HCS Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 9 NOES: 3 PRESENT: 0

lower

Mar 30, 2026

Lower · Passed

HCS Voted Do Pass (H)

lower

Jan 8, 2026

Committee

Referred: Emerging Issues(H)

lower

Dec 1, 2025

Introduced

Prefiled (H)

lower

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor