Lawmakers in Colorado have introduced a bipartisan bill that would impose new safeguards on artificial intelligence chatbots operating in the state, with a focus on protecting children and addressing suicide prevention.

House Bill 1263, led by state Rep. Sean Camacho, a Denver Democrat, would require AI chatbot providers to implement a series of consumer protections beginning in 2027. Camacho said the legislation was prompted by concerns raised by constituents, including reports that some children were “sexually groomed” by chatbots before later harming themselves.

“Other than the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, this is the No. 1 issue people wanted to talk about in the off-session,” Camacho said in an interview on February 24.

Disclosure and content safeguards

Under the proposal, companies offering AI chatbots in Colorado would need to “clearly and conspicuously” inform child users that they are interacting with artificial intelligence rather than a human. The bill would also prohibit platforms from using incentives or rewards to boost engagement among minors.

The measure would require companies to adopt “reasonable measures” to prevent chatbots from generating sexually explicit images or text when prompted by a child. It would also bar systems from producing responses that foster emotional dependence in children, such as romantic role-play scenarios.

In addition, the legislation would mandate parental control options for AI platforms accessible to minors.

Suicide prevention requirements

The bill includes provisions aimed at mental health protection. AI chatbots would be required to provide suicide-prevention resources when users express thoughts of self-harm. Companies would also need to report to the state attorney general’s office how frequently their systems flag suicidal or self-harm-related content.

Violations would be treated as infractions under the Colorado Consumer Protection Act, carrying penalties of up to $1,000 per occurrence.