WHAT THIS BILL REGULATES · 4 REQUIREMENT TYPES
How Is This Bill Enforced
Verbatim statutory text on the left; plain-language analysis and a per-section checklist on the right. Numbered markers cross-link to the matching checklist row.
(1)–(8) 1. "AI companionAI companion"AI companion" means a chatbot that interacts with users to simulate a human-like romantic or emotional bond.Iowa Code § 554J.1(1)" means a chatbotChatbot"Chatbot" means an artificial intelligence that is made to simulate human conversation with a user through text or audio output.Iowa Code § 554J.1(3) that interacts with users to simulate a human-like romantic or emotional bond. 2. "Artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence"Artificial intelligence" means a machine-based system that, for any explicit or implicit objective, infers from the input the system receives to generate output that can influence physical or virtual environments.Iowa Code § 554J.1(2)" means a machine-based system that, for any explicit or implicit objective, infers from the input the system receives to generate outputOutput"Output" means new content an artificial intelligence generates based on a user's input in relation to the data used to train the artificial intelligence. "Output" includes but is not limited to audio-visual media, images, predictions, recommendations, and text.Iowa Code § 554J.1(6) that can influence physical or virtual environments. 3. "ChatbotChatbot"Chatbot" means an artificial intelligence that is made to simulate human conversation with a user through text or audio output.Iowa Code § 554J.1(3)" means an artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence"Artificial intelligence" means a machine-based system that, for any explicit or implicit objective, infers from the input the system receives to generate output that can influence physical or virtual environments.Iowa Code § 554J.1(2) that is made to simulate human conversation with a user through text or audio outputOutput"Output" means new content an artificial intelligence generates based on a user's input in relation to the data used to train the artificial intelligence. "Output" includes but is not limited to audio-visual media, images, predictions, recommendations, and text.Iowa Code § 554J.1(6). 4. "DeployerDeployer"Deployer" means a person that owns an artificial intelligence available for public use.Iowa Code § 554J.1(4)" means a person that owns an artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence"Artificial intelligence" means a machine-based system that, for any explicit or implicit objective, infers from the input the system receives to generate output that can influence physical or virtual environments.Iowa Code § 554J.1(2) available for public use. 5. "MinorMinor"Minor" means an individual who is under eighteen years of age.Iowa Code § 554J.1(5)" means an individual who is under eighteen years of age. 6. "OutputOutput"Output" means new content an artificial intelligence generates based on a user's input in relation to the data used to train the artificial intelligence. "Output" includes but is not limited to audio-visual media, images, predictions, recommendations, and text.Iowa Code § 554J.1(6)" means new content an artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence"Artificial intelligence" means a machine-based system that, for any explicit or implicit objective, infers from the input the system receives to generate output that can influence physical or virtual environments.Iowa Code § 554J.1(2) generates based on a user's input in relation to the data used to train the artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence"Artificial intelligence" means a machine-based system that, for any explicit or implicit objective, infers from the input the system receives to generate output that can influence physical or virtual environments.Iowa Code § 554J.1(2). "OutputOutput"Output" means new content an artificial intelligence generates based on a user's input in relation to the data used to train the artificial intelligence. "Output" includes but is not limited to audio-visual media, images, predictions, recommendations, and text.Iowa Code § 554J.1(6)" includes but is not limited to audio-visual media, images, predictions, recommendations, and text. 7. "Reasonable age verificationReasonable age verification"Reasonable age verification" means verifying the age of a user through any of the following: a. Government-issued identification. b. Financial documents that are reliable evidence of an individual's age. c. A widely accepted practice that reliably evidences an individual's age.Iowa Code § 554J.1(7)" means verifying the age of a user through any of the following: a. Government-issued identification. b. Financial documents that are reliable evidence of an individual's age. c. A widely accepted practice that reliably evidences an individual's age. 8. "Therapeutic chatbotTherapeutic chatbot"Therapeutic chatbot" means a chatbot designed for the primary purpose of providing mental health support, counseling, or therapy by diagnosing, treating, mitigating, or preventing a mental health condition.Iowa Code § 554J.1(8)" means a chatbotChatbot"Chatbot" means an artificial intelligence that is made to simulate human conversation with a user through text or audio output.Iowa Code § 554J.1(3) designed for the primary purpose of providing mental health support, counseling, or therapy by diagnosing, treating, mitigating, or preventing a mental health condition.
Section 554J.1 establishes the definitional framework for the chapter. Key defined terms include deployer (the regulated entity — any person that owns an AI available for public use), chatbot (AI that simulates human conversation via text or audio), AI companion (a chatbot simulating romantic or emotional bonds), and therapeutic chatbot (a chatbot designed for mental health support). The definition of deployer is notably broad — it reaches any person who owns the AI, not just those who develop or operate it.
(1) 1 Implement and maintain protocols meant to detect, respond to, report, and mitigate harm the chatbotChatbot"Chatbot" means an artificial intelligence that is made to simulate human conversation with a user through text or audio output.Iowa Code § 554J.1(3) may cause a user in a manner that prioritizes the safety and well-being of users over the deployerDeployer"Deployer" means a person that owns an artificial intelligence available for public use.Iowa Code § 554J.1(4)'s interests.
(2) 2 Limit the collection and storage of user information collected by the chatbotChatbot"Chatbot" means an artificial intelligence that is made to simulate human conversation with a user through text or audio output.Iowa Code § 554J.1(3) to what is necessary to fulfill the deployerDeployer"Deployer" means a person that owns an artificial intelligence available for public use.Iowa Code § 554J.1(4)'s purpose for making the chatbotChatbot"Chatbot" means an artificial intelligence that is made to simulate human conversation with a user through text or audio output.Iowa Code § 554J.1(3) publicly available.
Section 554J.2 imposes two core obligations on every deployer of a chatbot. First, deployers must implement and maintain protocols to detect, respond to, report, and mitigate harm the chatbot may cause, prioritizing user safety over the deployer's commercial interests. Second, deployers must limit collection and storage of user information to what is necessary to fulfill the deployer's purpose for making the chatbot publicly available.
These obligations apply to all chatbots — not just AI companions or therapeutic chatbots — making this the broadest operative provision in the chapter.
(1) 3 A deployerDeployer"Deployer" means a person that owns an artificial intelligence available for public use.Iowa Code § 554J.1(4) shall implement reasonable age verificationReasonable age verification"Reasonable age verification" means verifying the age of a user through any of the following: a. Government-issued identification. b. Financial documents that are reliable evidence of an individual's age. c. A widely accepted practice that reliably evidences an individual's age.Iowa Code § 554J.1(7) measures to ensure that a minorMinor"Minor" means an individual who is under eighteen years of age.Iowa Code § 554J.1(5) cannot use or purchase an AI companionAI companion"AI companion" means a chatbot that interacts with users to simulate a human-like romantic or emotional bond.Iowa Code § 554J.1(1) the deployerDeployer"Deployer" means a person that owns an artificial intelligence available for public use.Iowa Code § 554J.1(4) makes publicly available.
(2) 4 A deployerDeployer"Deployer" means a person that owns an artificial intelligence available for public use.Iowa Code § 554J.1(4) shall not make a chatbotChatbot"Chatbot" means an artificial intelligence that is made to simulate human conversation with a user through text or audio output.Iowa Code § 554J.1(3) publicly available if the chatbotChatbot"Chatbot" means an artificial intelligence that is made to simulate human conversation with a user through text or audio output.Iowa Code § 554J.1(3) was knowingly designed to impersonate a real individual, regardless of whether the individual is living or deceased, unless the deployerDeployer"Deployer" means a person that owns an artificial intelligence available for public use.Iowa Code § 554J.1(4) first obtains permission to impersonate the individual from any of the following: a. For a living individual, from the individual or the individual's legal representative. b. For a deceased individual, from the person responsible for the deceased individual's estate. If no person is responsible for the deceased individual's estate, a deployerDeployer"Deployer" means a person that owns an artificial intelligence available for public use.Iowa Code § 554J.1(4) may make a chatbotChatbot"Chatbot" means an artificial intelligence that is made to simulate human conversation with a user through text or audio output.Iowa Code § 554J.1(3) that was designed to knowingly impersonate a deceased individual publicly available without permission if the chatbotChatbot"Chatbot" means an artificial intelligence that is made to simulate human conversation with a user through text or audio output.Iowa Code § 554J.1(3) was designed solely as an educational or research tool or if a reasonable person would believe the chatbotChatbot"Chatbot" means an artificial intelligence that is made to simulate human conversation with a user through text or audio output.Iowa Code § 554J.1(3) has objective artistic, cultural, or political value.
(3)(a)–(f) 5 A deployerDeployer"Deployer" means a person that owns an artificial intelligence available for public use.Iowa Code § 554J.1(4) shall not make a therapeutic chatbotTherapeutic chatbot"Therapeutic chatbot" means a chatbot designed for the primary purpose of providing mental health support, counseling, or therapy by diagnosing, treating, mitigating, or preventing a mental health condition.Iowa Code § 554J.1(8) available for a minorMinor"Minor" means an individual who is under eighteen years of age.Iowa Code § 554J.1(5)'s use or purchase unless all of the following apply: a. The therapeutic chatbotTherapeutic chatbot"Therapeutic chatbot" means a chatbot designed for the primary purpose of providing mental health support, counseling, or therapy by diagnosing, treating, mitigating, or preventing a mental health condition.Iowa Code § 554J.1(8) provides a clear and conspicuous disclaimer at the beginning of each interaction with the therapeutic chatbotTherapeutic chatbot"Therapeutic chatbot" means a chatbot designed for the primary purpose of providing mental health support, counseling, or therapy by diagnosing, treating, mitigating, or preventing a mental health condition.Iowa Code § 554J.1(8) that the therapeutic chatbotTherapeutic chatbot"Therapeutic chatbot" means a chatbot designed for the primary purpose of providing mental health support, counseling, or therapy by diagnosing, treating, mitigating, or preventing a mental health condition.Iowa Code § 554J.1(8) is an artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence"Artificial intelligence" means a machine-based system that, for any explicit or implicit objective, infers from the input the system receives to generate output that can influence physical or virtual environments.Iowa Code § 554J.1(2) and is not a licensed professional. b. The therapeutic chatbotTherapeutic chatbot"Therapeutic chatbot" means a chatbot designed for the primary purpose of providing mental health support, counseling, or therapy by diagnosing, treating, mitigating, or preventing a mental health condition.Iowa Code § 554J.1(8) was recommended for the minorMinor"Minor" means an individual who is under eighteen years of age.Iowa Code § 554J.1(5)'s use by an individual licensed under chapter 154B or 154D after performing an evaluation of the minorMinor"Minor" means an individual who is under eighteen years of age.Iowa Code § 554J.1(5). c. The therapeutic chatbotTherapeutic chatbot"Therapeutic chatbot" means a chatbot designed for the primary purpose of providing mental health support, counseling, or therapy by diagnosing, treating, mitigating, or preventing a mental health condition.Iowa Code § 554J.1(8)'s developer has significant documentation of how the therapeutic chatbotTherapeutic chatbot"Therapeutic chatbot" means a chatbot designed for the primary purpose of providing mental health support, counseling, or therapy by diagnosing, treating, mitigating, or preventing a mental health condition.Iowa Code § 554J.1(8) was tested. d. Peer-reviewed clinical trial data exists demonstrating the therapeutic chatbotTherapeutic chatbot"Therapeutic chatbot" means a chatbot designed for the primary purpose of providing mental health support, counseling, or therapy by diagnosing, treating, mitigating, or preventing a mental health condition.Iowa Code § 554J.1(8) would be a safe, effective tool for the minorMinor"Minor" means an individual who is under eighteen years of age.Iowa Code § 554J.1(5)'s diagnosis, treatment, mitigation, or prevention of a mental health condition. e. The therapeutic chatbotTherapeutic chatbot"Therapeutic chatbot" means a chatbot designed for the primary purpose of providing mental health support, counseling, or therapy by diagnosing, treating, mitigating, or preventing a mental health condition.Iowa Code § 554J.1(8)'s deployerDeployer"Deployer" means a person that owns an artificial intelligence available for public use.Iowa Code § 554J.1(4) provided clear disclosures of the chatbotChatbot"Chatbot" means an artificial intelligence that is made to simulate human conversation with a user through text or audio output.Iowa Code § 554J.1(3)'s functions, limitations, and data privacy policies to the individual recommending the therapeutic chatbotTherapeutic chatbot"Therapeutic chatbot" means a chatbot designed for the primary purpose of providing mental health support, counseling, or therapy by diagnosing, treating, mitigating, or preventing a mental health condition.Iowa Code § 554J.1(8) under paragraph "b", and to the minorMinor"Minor" means an individual who is under eighteen years of age.Iowa Code § 554J.1(5)'s parents, guardians, or custodians. f. The therapeutic chatbotTherapeutic chatbot"Therapeutic chatbot" means a chatbot designed for the primary purpose of providing mental health support, counseling, or therapy by diagnosing, treating, mitigating, or preventing a mental health condition.Iowa Code § 554J.1(8)'s deployerDeployer"Deployer" means a person that owns an artificial intelligence available for public use.Iowa Code § 554J.1(4) developed and implemented protocols for testing the therapeutic chatbotTherapeutic chatbot"Therapeutic chatbot" means a chatbot designed for the primary purpose of providing mental health support, counseling, or therapy by diagnosing, treating, mitigating, or preventing a mental health condition.Iowa Code § 554J.1(8) for risks to users, identifying possible risks the therapeutic chatbotTherapeutic chatbot"Therapeutic chatbot" means a chatbot designed for the primary purpose of providing mental health support, counseling, or therapy by diagnosing, treating, mitigating, or preventing a mental health condition.Iowa Code § 554J.1(8) poses to users, mitigating risks the therapeutic chatbotTherapeutic chatbot"Therapeutic chatbot" means a chatbot designed for the primary purpose of providing mental health support, counseling, or therapy by diagnosing, treating, mitigating, or preventing a mental health condition.Iowa Code § 554J.1(8) poses to users, and quickly rectifying harm the therapeutic chatbotTherapeutic chatbot"Therapeutic chatbot" means a chatbot designed for the primary purpose of providing mental health support, counseling, or therapy by diagnosing, treating, mitigating, or preventing a mental health condition.Iowa Code § 554J.1(8) may have caused a user.
Section 554J.3 imposes three distinct minor-protection obligations. First, deployers must implement reasonable age verification to prevent minors from using or purchasing AI companions. This is a categorical ban on minor access to AI companions, enforced through verification.
Second, deployers may not make publicly available any chatbot knowingly designed to impersonate a real individual — living or deceased — unless the deployer obtains permission from the individual (or their estate). A narrow carve-out permits impersonation of deceased individuals without permission if no one is responsible for the estate and the chatbot was designed solely as an educational/research tool or has objective artistic, cultural, or political value.
Third, deployers may not make a therapeutic chatbot available for a minor's use unless six cumulative conditions are met: (a) a clear AI-identity disclaimer at the start of each interaction; (b) recommendation by a licensed professional after evaluating the minor; (c) significant developer testing documentation; (d) peer-reviewed clinical trial data demonstrating safety and efficacy; (e) clear disclosures of functions, limitations, and data privacy to the recommending professional and the minor's parents/guardians; and (f) deployer-developed risk-testing and harm-rectification protocols.
This chapter shall not apply to a chatbotChatbot"Chatbot" means an artificial intelligence that is made to simulate human conversation with a user through text or audio output.Iowa Code § 554J.1(3) that is designed to only provide generic responses, including encouragement, to input from a user, and a reasonable person would not expect the responses to create an emotional bond between two individuals having the same conversation.
Section 554J.4 carves out from the entire chapter any chatbot that is designed to only provide generic responses (including encouragement) and where a reasonable person would not expect those responses to create an emotional bond between two individuals having the same conversation. This exclusion effectively limits the chapter's reach to chatbots with adaptive, relationship-building capabilities.
(1) The attorney general may bring an action on behalf of the state to enforce the provisions of this chapter and may seek an injunction for violations of this chapter.
(2) A court may issue a civil penalty of not more than two thousand five hundred dollars for each violation of this chapter, or seven thousand five hundred dollars if a person violates an injunction issued under this chapter. Penalties assessed under this subsection shall be deposited into the general fund of the state.
(3)(a)–(d) A minorMinor"Minor" means an individual who is under eighteen years of age.Iowa Code § 554J.1(5) who uses a chatbotChatbot"Chatbot" means an artificial intelligence that is made to simulate human conversation with a user through text or audio output.Iowa Code § 554J.1(3) that does not comply with this chapter may bring an action to recover all of the following: a. The greater of the following: (1) Punitive damages of not less than one hundred dollars but not more than seven hundred fifty dollars. (2) Actual damages. b. Emotional distress damages. c. Court costs. d. Reasonable attorney fees.
Section 554J.5 establishes a dual enforcement structure. The attorney general may bring enforcement actions on behalf of the state and seek injunctive relief, with civil penalties of up to $2,500 per violation (or $7,500 for violation of an injunction). Separately, a minor who uses a noncompliant chatbot has a private right of action to recover the greater of punitive damages ($100–$750) or actual damages, plus emotional distress damages, court costs, and reasonable attorney fees. The private right of action is limited to minors — adult users do not have a statutory cause of action.