HB 2006 Pennsylvania House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

An Act providing for safety regarding artificial intelligence in companionship applications; and imposing a penalty.

HB 2006 requires developers of artificial intelligence applications designed for companionship (such as chatbots for elderly care or mental health support) to implement specific safety standards. It directly affects technology companies creating these AI tools by mandating safeguards against harmful outputs or privacy breaches. The bill establishes a penalty system, including fines, for developers who fail to meet the required safety measures. This legislation aims to protect users interacting with AI companions through concrete regulatory requirements, not speculative outcomes.

Issues: ✓ Technology

Bill status in committee 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Nov 2025

Committee Review

Jul 2026

House Passage

Jul 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Nov 6, 2025 Last action Jul 1, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Printer's No. PN3676 → Printer's No. PN3747 · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was significantly strengthened to better protect minors and users from AI risks. The most critical change is the increase in penalties from $15,000 to $100,000 per day for violations. The bill also added specific safeguards against generating sexually explicit content for minors, introduced mandatory age verification systems, and required operators to pause interactions to remind users they are talking to an AI.

Scope change

The scope expanded to include stricter protections for minors, including mandatory parental consent and prohibitions on generating sexually explicit content or content that encourages self-harm or violence.

ENFORCEMENT

Civil penalties for violations were increased from $15,000 to $100,000 per day per violation.

REQUIREMENT

New requirements mandate that AI companions cannot generate sexually explicit content or encourage self-harm, violence, or isolation for minor users.

Operators must now implement age assurance methods and obtain verifiable parental consent before allowing minors to use the service.

Disclosures that the AI is not human must now appear at the start of every interaction and every two hours, with the session paused for two minutes during these reminders.

Operators must publish annual reports to the Attorney General detailing how they refer users to crisis centers and prevent harmful content generation.

TIMELINE

The effective date was extended from 60 days to 180 days to allow operators time to implement new safety protocols.

Floor votes · House Jul 1, 2026

How they voted

104–97

Passed

Total votes 201

Jul 1, 2026

D Democratic102

102 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican99

2 Yea 97 Nay

97% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Jul 1, 2026

House · Passed

House Vote: pass (104-97)

house

Jul 1, 2026

Committee

Re-committed to Appropriations

lower

Jul 1, 2026

Lower · Passed

Re-reported as committed

lower

Jun 23, 2026

Committee

Re-committed to Rules

lower

Jun 23, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported as amended

lower

Nov 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to Communications & Technology

lower

1 primary · 13 co-sponsors