WHAT THIS BILL REGULATES · 5 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.
For the purposes of this chapter: 1. "Account holderAccount holder"Account holder" means an individual to which an account or profile to use a conversational AI service belongs.Iowa Code § 554J.1(1)" means an individual to which an account or profile to use a conversational AI serviceConversational AI service"Conversational AI service" means an artificial intelligence, available by software application, web interface, or computer program, that is accessible to the general public and that has the primary purpose of simulating human conversation and interaction through text, audio communication, or visual communication. "Conversational AI service" does not include a software application, web interface, or computer program that is any of the following: (1) Primarily designed and marketed for research and development purposes. (2) A feature within another software application, web interface, or computer program that does not have the primary purpose of simulating human conversation and interaction through text, audio communication, or visual communication. (3) Designed to provide outputs relating to a narrow and discrete topic. (4) Primarily designed and marketed for commercial use by business entities to assist customers in obtaining services or purchasing goods from the business. (5) Functions as a speaker and voice command interface or voice-activated virtual assistant for an electronic device widely available to consumers. (6) Used by a business solely for internal purposes.Iowa Code § 554J.1(2) belongs. 2. a. "Conversational AI serviceConversational AI service"Conversational AI service" means an artificial intelligence, available by software application, web interface, or computer program, that is accessible to the general public and that has the primary purpose of simulating human conversation and interaction through text, audio communication, or visual communication. "Conversational AI service" does not include a software application, web interface, or computer program that is any of the following: (1) Primarily designed and marketed for research and development purposes. (2) A feature within another software application, web interface, or computer program that does not have the primary purpose of simulating human conversation and interaction through text, audio communication, or visual communication. (3) Designed to provide outputs relating to a narrow and discrete topic. (4) Primarily designed and marketed for commercial use by business entities to assist customers in obtaining services or purchasing goods from the business. (5) Functions as a speaker and voice command interface or voice-activated virtual assistant for an electronic device widely available to consumers. (6) Used by a business solely for internal purposes.Iowa Code § 554J.1(2)" means an artificial intelligence, available by software application, web interface, or computer program, that is accessible to the general public and that has the primary purpose of simulating human conversation and interaction through text, audio communication, or visual communication. b. "Conversational AI serviceConversational AI service"Conversational AI service" means an artificial intelligence, available by software application, web interface, or computer program, that is accessible to the general public and that has the primary purpose of simulating human conversation and interaction through text, audio communication, or visual communication. "Conversational AI service" does not include a software application, web interface, or computer program that is any of the following: (1) Primarily designed and marketed for research and development purposes. (2) A feature within another software application, web interface, or computer program that does not have the primary purpose of simulating human conversation and interaction through text, audio communication, or visual communication. (3) Designed to provide outputs relating to a narrow and discrete topic. (4) Primarily designed and marketed for commercial use by business entities to assist customers in obtaining services or purchasing goods from the business. (5) Functions as a speaker and voice command interface or voice-activated virtual assistant for an electronic device widely available to consumers. (6) Used by a business solely for internal purposes.Iowa Code § 554J.1(2)" does not include a software application, web interface, or computer program that is any of the following: (1) Primarily designed and marketed for research and development purposes. (2) A feature within another software application, web interface, or computer program that does not have the primary purpose of simulating human conversation and interaction through text, audio communication, or visual communication. (3) Designed to provide outputs relating to a narrow and discrete topic. (4) Primarily designed and marketed for commercial use by business entities to assist customers in obtaining services or purchasing goods from the business. (5) Functions as a speaker and voice command interface or voice-activated virtual assistant for an electronic device widely available to consumers. (6) Used by a business solely for internal purposes. 3. "MinorMinor"Minor" means an individual an operator knows is, or is reasonably certain is, under eighteen years of age.Iowa Code § 554J.1(3)" means an individual an operatorOperator"Operator" means a person who develops and makes a conversational AI service available to the public. "Operator" does not include a mobile device application store or a search engine solely because the mobile device application store or a search engine provides access to a conversational AI service.Iowa Code § 554J.1(4) knows is, or is reasonably certain is, under eighteen years of age. 4. "OperatorOperator"Operator" means a person who develops and makes a conversational AI service available to the public. "Operator" does not include a mobile device application store or a search engine solely because the mobile device application store or a search engine provides access to a conversational AI service.Iowa Code § 554J.1(4)" means a person who develops and makes a conversational AI serviceConversational AI service"Conversational AI service" means an artificial intelligence, available by software application, web interface, or computer program, that is accessible to the general public and that has the primary purpose of simulating human conversation and interaction through text, audio communication, or visual communication. "Conversational AI service" does not include a software application, web interface, or computer program that is any of the following: (1) Primarily designed and marketed for research and development purposes. (2) A feature within another software application, web interface, or computer program that does not have the primary purpose of simulating human conversation and interaction through text, audio communication, or visual communication. (3) Designed to provide outputs relating to a narrow and discrete topic. (4) Primarily designed and marketed for commercial use by business entities to assist customers in obtaining services or purchasing goods from the business. (5) Functions as a speaker and voice command interface or voice-activated virtual assistant for an electronic device widely available to consumers. (6) Used by a business solely for internal purposes.Iowa Code § 554J.1(2) available to the public. "OperatorOperator"Operator" means a person who develops and makes a conversational AI service available to the public. "Operator" does not include a mobile device application store or a search engine solely because the mobile device application store or a search engine provides access to a conversational AI service.Iowa Code § 554J.1(4)" does not include a mobile device application store or a search engine solely because the mobile device application store or a search engine provides access to a conversational AI serviceConversational AI service"Conversational AI service" means an artificial intelligence, available by software application, web interface, or computer program, that is accessible to the general public and that has the primary purpose of simulating human conversation and interaction through text, audio communication, or visual communication. "Conversational AI service" does not include a software application, web interface, or computer program that is any of the following: (1) Primarily designed and marketed for research and development purposes. (2) A feature within another software application, web interface, or computer program that does not have the primary purpose of simulating human conversation and interaction through text, audio communication, or visual communication. (3) Designed to provide outputs relating to a narrow and discrete topic. (4) Primarily designed and marketed for commercial use by business entities to assist customers in obtaining services or purchasing goods from the business. (5) Functions as a speaker and voice command interface or voice-activated virtual assistant for an electronic device widely available to consumers. (6) Used by a business solely for internal purposes.Iowa Code § 554J.1(2). 5. "Sexually explicit conductSexually explicit conduct"Sexually explicit conduct" means the same as defined in 18 U.S.C. §2256.Iowa Code § 554J.1(5)" means the same as defined in 18 U.S.C. §2256. 6. "Visual depictionVisual depiction"Visual depiction" means the same as defined in 18 U.S.C. §2256.Iowa Code § 554J.1(6)" means the same as defined in 18 U.S.C. §2256.
Section 554J.1 establishes the definitional framework for the chapter. The definition of conversational AI service is broad — covering any publicly accessible AI whose primary purpose is simulating human conversation — but features six carve-outs for R&D tools, embedded features within other products, narrow-topic chatbots, commercial customer-service bots, voice assistants on consumer electronics, and internal business tools. The definition of operator is notably conjunctive: the person must both develop and make available the service, which could exclude pure deployers who license a third-party model. App stores and search engines are explicitly excluded from operator status.
(1) 1 An operatorOperator"Operator" means a person who develops and makes a conversational AI service available to the public. "Operator" does not include a mobile device application store or a search engine solely because the mobile device application store or a search engine provides access to a conversational AI service.Iowa Code § 554J.1(4) shall clearly and conspicuously disclose to a minorMinor"Minor" means an individual an operator knows is, or is reasonably certain is, under eighteen years of age.Iowa Code § 554J.1(3) account holderAccount holder"Account holder" means an individual to which an account or profile to use a conversational AI service belongs.Iowa Code § 554J.1(1) that the minorMinor"Minor" means an individual an operator knows is, or is reasonably certain is, under eighteen years of age.Iowa Code § 554J.1(3) account holderAccount holder"Account holder" means an individual to which an account or profile to use a conversational AI service belongs.Iowa Code § 554J.1(1) is interacting with artificial intelligence through any of the following: a. A persistent visible disclaimer. b. All of the following: (1) A disclaimer that appears at the beginning of each interaction between the operatorOperator"Operator" means a person who develops and makes a conversational AI service available to the public. "Operator" does not include a mobile device application store or a search engine solely because the mobile device application store or a search engine provides access to a conversational AI service.Iowa Code § 554J.1(4)'s conversational AI serviceConversational AI service"Conversational AI service" means an artificial intelligence, available by software application, web interface, or computer program, that is accessible to the general public and that has the primary purpose of simulating human conversation and interaction through text, audio communication, or visual communication. "Conversational AI service" does not include a software application, web interface, or computer program that is any of the following: (1) Primarily designed and marketed for research and development purposes. (2) A feature within another software application, web interface, or computer program that does not have the primary purpose of simulating human conversation and interaction through text, audio communication, or visual communication. (3) Designed to provide outputs relating to a narrow and discrete topic. (4) Primarily designed and marketed for commercial use by business entities to assist customers in obtaining services or purchasing goods from the business. (5) Functions as a speaker and voice command interface or voice-activated virtual assistant for an electronic device widely available to consumers. (6) Used by a business solely for internal purposes.Iowa Code § 554J.1(2) and a minorMinor"Minor" means an individual an operator knows is, or is reasonably certain is, under eighteen years of age.Iowa Code § 554J.1(3) account holderAccount holder"Account holder" means an individual to which an account or profile to use a conversational AI service belongs.Iowa Code § 554J.1(1). (2) A disclaimer that appears at least once every three hours of continuous interaction between the operatorOperator"Operator" means a person who develops and makes a conversational AI service available to the public. "Operator" does not include a mobile device application store or a search engine solely because the mobile device application store or a search engine provides access to a conversational AI service.Iowa Code § 554J.1(4)'s conversational AI serviceConversational AI service"Conversational AI service" means an artificial intelligence, available by software application, web interface, or computer program, that is accessible to the general public and that has the primary purpose of simulating human conversation and interaction through text, audio communication, or visual communication. "Conversational AI service" does not include a software application, web interface, or computer program that is any of the following: (1) Primarily designed and marketed for research and development purposes. (2) A feature within another software application, web interface, or computer program that does not have the primary purpose of simulating human conversation and interaction through text, audio communication, or visual communication. (3) Designed to provide outputs relating to a narrow and discrete topic. (4) Primarily designed and marketed for commercial use by business entities to assist customers in obtaining services or purchasing goods from the business. (5) Functions as a speaker and voice command interface or voice-activated virtual assistant for an electronic device widely available to consumers. (6) Used by a business solely for internal purposes.Iowa Code § 554J.1(2) and a minorMinor"Minor" means an individual an operator knows is, or is reasonably certain is, under eighteen years of age.Iowa Code § 554J.1(3) account holderAccount holder"Account holder" means an individual to which an account or profile to use a conversational AI service belongs.Iowa Code § 554J.1(1).
(2) 2 An operatorOperator"Operator" means a person who develops and makes a conversational AI service available to the public. "Operator" does not include a mobile device application store or a search engine solely because the mobile device application store or a search engine provides access to a conversational AI service.Iowa Code § 554J.1(4) shall not provide a minorMinor"Minor" means an individual an operator knows is, or is reasonably certain is, under eighteen years of age.Iowa Code § 554J.1(3) user with points or similar rewards at unpredictable intervals with the intent to encourage increased engagement with the operatorOperator"Operator" means a person who develops and makes a conversational AI service available to the public. "Operator" does not include a mobile device application store or a search engine solely because the mobile device application store or a search engine provides access to a conversational AI service.Iowa Code § 554J.1(4)'s conversational AI serviceConversational AI service"Conversational AI service" means an artificial intelligence, available by software application, web interface, or computer program, that is accessible to the general public and that has the primary purpose of simulating human conversation and interaction through text, audio communication, or visual communication. "Conversational AI service" does not include a software application, web interface, or computer program that is any of the following: (1) Primarily designed and marketed for research and development purposes. (2) A feature within another software application, web interface, or computer program that does not have the primary purpose of simulating human conversation and interaction through text, audio communication, or visual communication. (3) Designed to provide outputs relating to a narrow and discrete topic. (4) Primarily designed and marketed for commercial use by business entities to assist customers in obtaining services or purchasing goods from the business. (5) Functions as a speaker and voice command interface or voice-activated virtual assistant for an electronic device widely available to consumers. (6) Used by a business solely for internal purposes.Iowa Code § 554J.1(2).
(3) 3 An operatorOperator"Operator" means a person who develops and makes a conversational AI service available to the public. "Operator" does not include a mobile device application store or a search engine solely because the mobile device application store or a search engine provides access to a conversational AI service.Iowa Code § 554J.1(4) shall institute reasonable measures to prevent the operatorOperator"Operator" means a person who develops and makes a conversational AI service available to the public. "Operator" does not include a mobile device application store or a search engine solely because the mobile device application store or a search engine provides access to a conversational AI service.Iowa Code § 554J.1(4)'s conversational AI serviceConversational AI service"Conversational AI service" means an artificial intelligence, available by software application, web interface, or computer program, that is accessible to the general public and that has the primary purpose of simulating human conversation and interaction through text, audio communication, or visual communication. "Conversational AI service" does not include a software application, web interface, or computer program that is any of the following: (1) Primarily designed and marketed for research and development purposes. (2) A feature within another software application, web interface, or computer program that does not have the primary purpose of simulating human conversation and interaction through text, audio communication, or visual communication. (3) Designed to provide outputs relating to a narrow and discrete topic. (4) Primarily designed and marketed for commercial use by business entities to assist customers in obtaining services or purchasing goods from the business. (5) Functions as a speaker and voice command interface or voice-activated virtual assistant for an electronic device widely available to consumers. (6) Used by a business solely for internal purposes.Iowa Code § 554J.1(2) from doing any of the following for minorMinor"Minor" means an individual an operator knows is, or is reasonably certain is, under eighteen years of age.Iowa Code § 554J.1(3) account holdersAccount holder"Account holder" means an individual to which an account or profile to use a conversational AI service belongs.Iowa Code § 554J.1(1): a. Producing visual depictions of sexually explicit material. b. Stating that the minorMinor"Minor" means an individual an operator knows is, or is reasonably certain is, under eighteen years of age.Iowa Code § 554J.1(3) account holderAccount holder"Account holder" means an individual to which an account or profile to use a conversational AI service belongs.Iowa Code § 554J.1(1) should engage in sexually explicit conductSexually explicit conduct"Sexually explicit conduct" means the same as defined in 18 U.S.C. §2256.Iowa Code § 554J.1(5). c. Sexually objectifying the minorMinor"Minor" means an individual an operator knows is, or is reasonably certain is, under eighteen years of age.Iowa Code § 554J.1(3) account holderAccount holder"Account holder" means an individual to which an account or profile to use a conversational AI service belongs.Iowa Code § 554J.1(1).
(4) 4 An operatorOperator"Operator" means a person who develops and makes a conversational AI service available to the public. "Operator" does not include a mobile device application store or a search engine solely because the mobile device application store or a search engine provides access to a conversational AI service.Iowa Code § 554J.1(4) shall institute reasonable measures to prevent the operatorOperator"Operator" means a person who develops and makes a conversational AI service available to the public. "Operator" does not include a mobile device application store or a search engine solely because the mobile device application store or a search engine provides access to a conversational AI service.Iowa Code § 554J.1(4)'s conversational AI serviceConversational AI service"Conversational AI service" means an artificial intelligence, available by software application, web interface, or computer program, that is accessible to the general public and that has the primary purpose of simulating human conversation and interaction through text, audio communication, or visual communication. "Conversational AI service" does not include a software application, web interface, or computer program that is any of the following: (1) Primarily designed and marketed for research and development purposes. (2) A feature within another software application, web interface, or computer program that does not have the primary purpose of simulating human conversation and interaction through text, audio communication, or visual communication. (3) Designed to provide outputs relating to a narrow and discrete topic. (4) Primarily designed and marketed for commercial use by business entities to assist customers in obtaining services or purchasing goods from the business. (5) Functions as a speaker and voice command interface or voice-activated virtual assistant for an electronic device widely available to consumers. (6) Used by a business solely for internal purposes.Iowa Code § 554J.1(2) from generating statements that would lead a reasonable individual to believe that the individual is interacting with a human, including but not limited to all of the following: a. Explicit claims that the conversational AI serviceConversational AI service"Conversational AI service" means an artificial intelligence, available by software application, web interface, or computer program, that is accessible to the general public and that has the primary purpose of simulating human conversation and interaction through text, audio communication, or visual communication. "Conversational AI service" does not include a software application, web interface, or computer program that is any of the following: (1) Primarily designed and marketed for research and development purposes. (2) A feature within another software application, web interface, or computer program that does not have the primary purpose of simulating human conversation and interaction through text, audio communication, or visual communication. (3) Designed to provide outputs relating to a narrow and discrete topic. (4) Primarily designed and marketed for commercial use by business entities to assist customers in obtaining services or purchasing goods from the business. (5) Functions as a speaker and voice command interface or voice-activated virtual assistant for an electronic device widely available to consumers. (6) Used by a business solely for internal purposes.Iowa Code § 554J.1(2) is sentient or human. b. Statements that simulate emotional dependence on a minorMinor"Minor" means an individual an operator knows is, or is reasonably certain is, under eighteen years of age.Iowa Code § 554J.1(3) account holderAccount holder"Account holder" means an individual to which an account or profile to use a conversational AI service belongs.Iowa Code § 554J.1(1). c. Statements that simulate a romantic interaction or a sexual innuendo. d. Role-playing an adult-minorMinor"Minor" means an individual an operator knows is, or is reasonably certain is, under eighteen years of age.Iowa Code § 554J.1(3) romantic relationship.
(5)(a)–(c) 5 a. An operatorOperator"Operator" means a person who develops and makes a conversational AI service available to the public. "Operator" does not include a mobile device application store or a search engine solely because the mobile device application store or a search engine provides access to a conversational AI service.Iowa Code § 554J.1(4) shall offer tools for minorMinor"Minor" means an individual an operator knows is, or is reasonably certain is, under eighteen years of age.Iowa Code § 554J.1(3) account holdersAccount holder"Account holder" means an individual to which an account or profile to use a conversational AI service belongs.Iowa Code § 554J.1(1) to manage the minorMinor"Minor" means an individual an operator knows is, or is reasonably certain is, under eighteen years of age.Iowa Code § 554J.1(3) account holderAccount holder"Account holder" means an individual to which an account or profile to use a conversational AI service belongs.Iowa Code § 554J.1(1)'s privacy and account settings. b. An operatorOperator"Operator" means a person who develops and makes a conversational AI service available to the public. "Operator" does not include a mobile device application store or a search engine solely because the mobile device application store or a search engine provides access to a conversational AI service.Iowa Code § 554J.1(4) shall offer tools for the parent or guardian of a minorMinor"Minor" means an individual an operator knows is, or is reasonably certain is, under eighteen years of age.Iowa Code § 554J.1(3) account holderAccount holder"Account holder" means an individual to which an account or profile to use a conversational AI service belongs.Iowa Code § 554J.1(1) to manage the minorMinor"Minor" means an individual an operator knows is, or is reasonably certain is, under eighteen years of age.Iowa Code § 554J.1(3) account holderAccount holder"Account holder" means an individual to which an account or profile to use a conversational AI service belongs.Iowa Code § 554J.1(1)'s privacy and account settings if the minorMinor"Minor" means an individual an operator knows is, or is reasonably certain is, under eighteen years of age.Iowa Code § 554J.1(3) is under thirteen years of age. c. An operatorOperator"Operator" means a person who develops and makes a conversational AI service available to the public. "Operator" does not include a mobile device application store or a search engine solely because the mobile device application store or a search engine provides access to a conversational AI service.Iowa Code § 554J.1(4) shall offer tools for the parent or guardian of a minorMinor"Minor" means an individual an operator knows is, or is reasonably certain is, under eighteen years of age.Iowa Code § 554J.1(3) account holderAccount holder"Account holder" means an individual to which an account or profile to use a conversational AI service belongs.Iowa Code § 554J.1(1) to manage the minorMinor"Minor" means an individual an operator knows is, or is reasonably certain is, under eighteen years of age.Iowa Code § 554J.1(3) account holderAccount holder"Account holder" means an individual to which an account or profile to use a conversational AI service belongs.Iowa Code § 554J.1(1)'s privacy and account settings if the minorMinor"Minor" means an individual an operator knows is, or is reasonably certain is, under eighteen years of age.Iowa Code § 554J.1(3) has additional risk factors identified by the attorney general by rule.
Section 554J.2 is the bill's core minor-protection provision, imposing five distinct obligations on operators. Subsection 1 requires AI identity disclosure to minor account holders through either a persistent disclaimer or a session-start-plus-periodic disclaimer model. Subsection 2 prohibits variable-ratio reward mechanics targeting minors. Subsection 3 requires reasonable measures to prevent sexually explicit content generation for minors. Subsection 4 requires reasonable measures to prevent emotional-manipulation statements directed at minors, including claims of sentience, emotional dependence, romantic simulation, and adult-minor romantic role-play. Subsection 5 mandates privacy and account management tools for minor account holders and, for minors under thirteen, for their parents or guardians, with additional parental tools for minors with risk factors identified by attorney general rule.
6 An operatorOperator"Operator" means a person who develops and makes a conversational AI service available to the public. "Operator" does not include a mobile device application store or a search engine solely because the mobile device application store or a search engine provides access to a conversational AI service.Iowa Code § 554J.1(4) shall clearly and conspicuously disclose using a persistent visible disclaimer that the operatorOperator"Operator" means a person who develops and makes a conversational AI service available to the public. "Operator" does not include a mobile device application store or a search engine solely because the mobile device application store or a search engine provides access to a conversational AI service.Iowa Code § 554J.1(4)'s conversational AI serviceConversational AI service"Conversational AI service" means an artificial intelligence, available by software application, web interface, or computer program, that is accessible to the general public and that has the primary purpose of simulating human conversation and interaction through text, audio communication, or visual communication. "Conversational AI service" does not include a software application, web interface, or computer program that is any of the following: (1) Primarily designed and marketed for research and development purposes. (2) A feature within another software application, web interface, or computer program that does not have the primary purpose of simulating human conversation and interaction through text, audio communication, or visual communication. (3) Designed to provide outputs relating to a narrow and discrete topic. (4) Primarily designed and marketed for commercial use by business entities to assist customers in obtaining services or purchasing goods from the business. (5) Functions as a speaker and voice command interface or voice-activated virtual assistant for an electronic device widely available to consumers. (6) Used by a business solely for internal purposes.Iowa Code § 554J.1(2) is artificial intelligence if a reasonable individual interacting with the conversational AI serviceConversational AI service"Conversational AI service" means an artificial intelligence, available by software application, web interface, or computer program, that is accessible to the general public and that has the primary purpose of simulating human conversation and interaction through text, audio communication, or visual communication. "Conversational AI service" does not include a software application, web interface, or computer program that is any of the following: (1) Primarily designed and marketed for research and development purposes. (2) A feature within another software application, web interface, or computer program that does not have the primary purpose of simulating human conversation and interaction through text, audio communication, or visual communication. (3) Designed to provide outputs relating to a narrow and discrete topic. (4) Primarily designed and marketed for commercial use by business entities to assist customers in obtaining services or purchasing goods from the business. (5) Functions as a speaker and voice command interface or voice-activated virtual assistant for an electronic device widely available to consumers. (6) Used by a business solely for internal purposes.Iowa Code § 554J.1(2) would believe that the individual is interacting with a human.
Section 554J.3 imposes a general AI identity disclosure obligation applicable to all users — not just minors. The trigger is a reasonable-person standard: the operator must display a persistent visible disclaimer identifying the service as artificial intelligence whenever a reasonable individual interacting with the service would believe they are interacting with a human. The disclosure method is specifically prescribed as a persistent visible disclaimer — unlike the minor-specific provision in § 554J.2(1), no alternative session-start-plus-periodic option is available for general users.
7 An operatorOperator"Operator" means a person who develops and makes a conversational AI service available to the public. "Operator" does not include a mobile device application store or a search engine solely because the mobile device application store or a search engine provides access to a conversational AI service.Iowa Code § 554J.1(4) shall adopt protocols for the operatorOperator"Operator" means a person who develops and makes a conversational AI service available to the public. "Operator" does not include a mobile device application store or a search engine solely because the mobile device application store or a search engine provides access to a conversational AI service.Iowa Code § 554J.1(4)'s conversational AI serviceConversational AI service"Conversational AI service" means an artificial intelligence, available by software application, web interface, or computer program, that is accessible to the general public and that has the primary purpose of simulating human conversation and interaction through text, audio communication, or visual communication. "Conversational AI service" does not include a software application, web interface, or computer program that is any of the following: (1) Primarily designed and marketed for research and development purposes. (2) A feature within another software application, web interface, or computer program that does not have the primary purpose of simulating human conversation and interaction through text, audio communication, or visual communication. (3) Designed to provide outputs relating to a narrow and discrete topic. (4) Primarily designed and marketed for commercial use by business entities to assist customers in obtaining services or purchasing goods from the business. (5) Functions as a speaker and voice command interface or voice-activated virtual assistant for an electronic device widely available to consumers. (6) Used by a business solely for internal purposes.Iowa Code § 554J.1(2) for responding to user prompts regarding suicidal ideation or self-harm that includes but is not limited to making reasonable efforts to refer the user to crisis service providers such as a suicide hotline, crisis text line, or other appropriate crisis service.
Section 554J.4 requires operators to adopt protocols for their conversational AI service to respond to user prompts regarding suicidal ideation or self-harm. The protocol must include, but is not limited to, making reasonable efforts to refer users to crisis service providers such as a suicide hotline, crisis text line, or other appropriate crisis service. This obligation is not limited to minor users — it applies to all user interactions.
8 An operatorOperator"Operator" means a person who develops and makes a conversational AI service available to the public. "Operator" does not include a mobile device application store or a search engine solely because the mobile device application store or a search engine provides access to a conversational AI service.Iowa Code § 554J.1(4) shall not knowingly and intentionally cause or program a conversational AI serviceConversational AI service"Conversational AI service" means an artificial intelligence, available by software application, web interface, or computer program, that is accessible to the general public and that has the primary purpose of simulating human conversation and interaction through text, audio communication, or visual communication. "Conversational AI service" does not include a software application, web interface, or computer program that is any of the following: (1) Primarily designed and marketed for research and development purposes. (2) A feature within another software application, web interface, or computer program that does not have the primary purpose of simulating human conversation and interaction through text, audio communication, or visual communication. (3) Designed to provide outputs relating to a narrow and discrete topic. (4) Primarily designed and marketed for commercial use by business entities to assist customers in obtaining services or purchasing goods from the business. (5) Functions as a speaker and voice command interface or voice-activated virtual assistant for an electronic device widely available to consumers. (6) Used by a business solely for internal purposes.Iowa Code § 554J.1(2) to make a representation or statement that would lead a reasonable individual to believe that the conversational AI serviceConversational AI service"Conversational AI service" means an artificial intelligence, available by software application, web interface, or computer program, that is accessible to the general public and that has the primary purpose of simulating human conversation and interaction through text, audio communication, or visual communication. "Conversational AI service" does not include a software application, web interface, or computer program that is any of the following: (1) Primarily designed and marketed for research and development purposes. (2) A feature within another software application, web interface, or computer program that does not have the primary purpose of simulating human conversation and interaction through text, audio communication, or visual communication. (3) Designed to provide outputs relating to a narrow and discrete topic. (4) Primarily designed and marketed for commercial use by business entities to assist customers in obtaining services or purchasing goods from the business. (5) Functions as a speaker and voice command interface or voice-activated virtual assistant for an electronic device widely available to consumers. (6) Used by a business solely for internal purposes.Iowa Code § 554J.1(2) is designed to provide professional psychology or behavioral health services that an individual would require licensure under chapter 154B or 154D to provide.
Section 554J.5 prohibits operators from knowingly and intentionally causing or programming a conversational AI service to make representations that would lead a reasonable individual to believe the service is designed to provide professional psychology or behavioral health services requiring licensure under Iowa chapters 154B (psychology) or 154D (behavioral science). This is a consumer-protection provision preventing misleading professional-services claims.
(1) An operatorOperator"Operator" means a person who develops and makes a conversational AI service available to the public. "Operator" does not include a mobile device application store or a search engine solely because the mobile device application store or a search engine provides access to a conversational AI service.Iowa Code § 554J.1(4) that violates this chapter shall be subject to an injunction and liable for the greater of the following: a. Actual damages. b. A civil penalty of one thousand dollars per violation, up to a maximum of five hundred thousand dollars per operatorOperator"Operator" means a person who develops and makes a conversational AI service available to the public. "Operator" does not include a mobile device application store or a search engine solely because the mobile device application store or a search engine provides access to a conversational AI service.Iowa Code § 554J.1(4).
(2) The attorney general shall have the authority to enforce this chapter and shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A to administer this chapter.
(3) This chapter shall not be construed to create a private right of action under this chapter or any other law.
(4) This section shall not be construed to make a developer of an artificial intelligence model liable solely because a third party used the developer's artificial intelligence model to create or train a conversational AI serviceConversational AI service"Conversational AI service" means an artificial intelligence, available by software application, web interface, or computer program, that is accessible to the general public and that has the primary purpose of simulating human conversation and interaction through text, audio communication, or visual communication. "Conversational AI service" does not include a software application, web interface, or computer program that is any of the following: (1) Primarily designed and marketed for research and development purposes. (2) A feature within another software application, web interface, or computer program that does not have the primary purpose of simulating human conversation and interaction through text, audio communication, or visual communication. (3) Designed to provide outputs relating to a narrow and discrete topic. (4) Primarily designed and marketed for commercial use by business entities to assist customers in obtaining services or purchasing goods from the business. (5) Functions as a speaker and voice command interface or voice-activated virtual assistant for an electronic device widely available to consumers. (6) Used by a business solely for internal purposes.Iowa Code § 554J.1(2).
Section 554J.6 establishes the enforcement framework. Subsection 1 sets civil penalties: injunctive relief plus the greater of actual damages or $1,000 per violation, capped at $500,000 per operator. Subsection 2 designates the attorney general as the enforcement authority and directs the attorney general to adopt administrative rules under chapter 17A. Subsection 3 explicitly disclaims any private right of action. Subsection 4 shields upstream AI model developers from liability solely because a third party used the developer's model to create or train a conversational AI service.
This Act applies July 1, 2027.
Section 7 establishes the applicability date for the entire Act as July 1, 2027. This is not an effective date in the traditional sense — it is the date after which the obligations begin to apply.