S 1037 South Carolina Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Protecting Children from Chatbots

Summary
A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS SO AS TO ENACT THE "PROTECTING CHILDREN FROM CHATBOTS ACT"; BY ADDING CHAPTER 81 TO TITLE 39, SO AS TO DEFINE TERMS RELATED TO CHATBOT USAGE; TO PROVIDE THAT A COVERED ENTITY SHALL MAKE A LIMITED-ACCESS MODE OF A CHATBOT AVAILABLE AND VERIFY THE USER'S AGE; TO PROVIDE THAT IF A PARENT PROVIDES CONSENT, THEN A MINOR SHALL BE ABLE TO USE A CHATBOT IN LIMITED-ACCESS MODE OR ACCESS RESTRICTED FEATURES; TO PROHIBIT A COVERED ENTITY FROM PRIORITIZING ENGAGEMENT AT THE EXPENSE OF THE USER'S WELL-BEING; TO PROVIDE PROCEDURES TO REPORT INCIDENTS OF HARM THAT A CHATBOT INFLICTS ON A MINOR; AND TO PROVIDE PENALTIES.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Mar 19, 2026 Last action Mar 24, 2026
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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
3
Key actions
0
Committee
1
Mar 19, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Labor, Commerce and Industry
upper
Mar 19, 2026
Introduced
Introduced and read first time
upper
4 primary · 0 co-sponsors

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