WHAT THIS BILL REGULATES · 3 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)–(6) 1. "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(1)" 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(5) that can influence physical or virtual environments. 2. "ChatbotChatbot"Chatbot" means an artificial intelligence that interacts with users by simulating human conversation.Iowa Code § 554J.1(2)" 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(1) that interacts with users by simulating human conversation. 3. "DeployerDeployer"Deployer" means a person that owns an artificial intelligence available for public use.Iowa Code § 554J.1(3)" 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(1) available for public use. 4. "MinorMinor"Minor" means an individual who is under eighteen years of age.Iowa Code § 554J.1(4)" means an individual who is under eighteen years of age. 5. "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(5)" 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(1) 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(1). "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(5)" includes but is not limited to audio-visual media, images, predictions, recommendations, and text. 6. "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(6)" 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.
Section 554J.1 establishes the definitional framework for the chapter. It defines six terms: artificial intelligence, chatbot, deployer, minor, output, and reasonable age verification. The chatbot definition is notably broad — any AI that interacts with users by simulating human conversation — and the deployer definition is unusually terse, covering any person that owns an AI available for public use, rather than the more typical formulation of a person that makes available a product.
(1) 1 A deployer of a chatbotChatbot"Chatbot" means an artificial intelligence that interacts with users by simulating human conversation.Iowa Code § 554J.1(2) shall do all of the following: 1. Implement and maintain protocols meant to detect, respond to, report, and mitigate harm the chatbotChatbot"Chatbot" means an artificial intelligence that interacts with users by simulating human conversation.Iowa Code § 554J.1(2) 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(3)'s interests.
(2) 2 2. Limit the collection and storage of user information collected by the chatbotChatbot"Chatbot" means an artificial intelligence that interacts with users by simulating human conversation.Iowa Code § 554J.1(2) 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(3)'s purpose for making the chatbotChatbot"Chatbot" means an artificial intelligence that interacts with users by simulating human conversation.Iowa Code § 554J.1(2) publicly available.
Section 554J.2 imposes two baseline obligations on every deployer of a chatbot: (1) implement and maintain harm-detection and response protocols that prioritize user safety over the deployer's interests, and (2) limit data collection and storage to what is necessary for the deployer's stated purpose. These obligations apply to all chatbot deployers regardless of whether the chatbot is accessible to minors.
(1) 3 1. A deployerDeployer"Deployer" means a person that owns an artificial intelligence available for public use.Iowa Code § 554J.1(3) 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(6) measures to ensure that a minorMinor"Minor" means an individual who is under eighteen years of age.Iowa Code § 554J.1(4) cannot use or purchase a chatbotChatbot"Chatbot" means an artificial intelligence that interacts with users by simulating human conversation.Iowa Code § 554J.1(2) the deployerDeployer"Deployer" means a person that owns an artificial intelligence available for public use.Iowa Code § 554J.1(3) makes publicly available.
(2)(a)–(g) 3 2. Notwithstanding subsection 1, a deployerDeployer"Deployer" means a person that owns an artificial intelligence available for public use.Iowa Code § 554J.1(3) may make a chatbotChatbot"Chatbot" means an artificial intelligence that interacts with users by simulating human conversation.Iowa Code § 554J.1(2) available for a minorMinor"Minor" means an individual who is under eighteen years of age.Iowa Code § 554J.1(4)'s use or purchase if all of the following apply: a. The chatbotChatbot"Chatbot" means an artificial intelligence that interacts with users by simulating human conversation.Iowa Code § 554J.1(2) was designed for the primary purpose of providing mental health support, counseling, or therapy by diagnosing, treating, mitigating, or preventing a mental health condition. b. The chatbotChatbot"Chatbot" means an artificial intelligence that interacts with users by simulating human conversation.Iowa Code § 554J.1(2) provides a clear and conspicuous disclaimer at the beginning of each interaction with the chatbotChatbot"Chatbot" means an artificial intelligence that interacts with users by simulating human conversation.Iowa Code § 554J.1(2) that the chatbotChatbot"Chatbot" means an artificial intelligence that interacts with users by simulating human conversation.Iowa Code § 554J.1(2) 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(1) and is not a licensed professional. c. The chatbotChatbot"Chatbot" means an artificial intelligence that interacts with users by simulating human conversation.Iowa Code § 554J.1(2) was recommended for the minorMinor"Minor" means an individual who is under eighteen years of age.Iowa Code § 554J.1(4)'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(4). d. The chatbotChatbot"Chatbot" means an artificial intelligence that interacts with users by simulating human conversation.Iowa Code § 554J.1(2)'s developer has significant documentation of how the chatbotChatbot"Chatbot" means an artificial intelligence that interacts with users by simulating human conversation.Iowa Code § 554J.1(2) was tested. e. Peer-reviewed clinical trial data exists demonstrating the chatbotChatbot"Chatbot" means an artificial intelligence that interacts with users by simulating human conversation.Iowa Code § 554J.1(2) would be a safe, effective tool for the minorMinor"Minor" means an individual who is under eighteen years of age.Iowa Code § 554J.1(4)'s diagnosis, treatment, mitigation, or prevention of a mental health condition. f. The chatbotChatbot"Chatbot" means an artificial intelligence that interacts with users by simulating human conversation.Iowa Code § 554J.1(2)'s deployerDeployer"Deployer" means a person that owns an artificial intelligence available for public use.Iowa Code § 554J.1(3) provided clear disclosures of the chatbotChatbot"Chatbot" means an artificial intelligence that interacts with users by simulating human conversation.Iowa Code § 554J.1(2)'s functions, limitations, and data privacy policies to the individual recommending the chatbotChatbot"Chatbot" means an artificial intelligence that interacts with users by simulating human conversation.Iowa Code § 554J.1(2) under paragraph "c", and to the minorMinor"Minor" means an individual who is under eighteen years of age.Iowa Code § 554J.1(4)'s parents, guardians, or custodians. g. The chatbotChatbot"Chatbot" means an artificial intelligence that interacts with users by simulating human conversation.Iowa Code § 554J.1(2)'s deployerDeployer"Deployer" means a person that owns an artificial intelligence available for public use.Iowa Code § 554J.1(3) developed and implemented protocols for testing the chatbotChatbot"Chatbot" means an artificial intelligence that interacts with users by simulating human conversation.Iowa Code § 554J.1(2) for risks to users, identifying possible risks the chatbotChatbot"Chatbot" means an artificial intelligence that interacts with users by simulating human conversation.Iowa Code § 554J.1(2) poses to users, mitigating risks the chatbotChatbot"Chatbot" means an artificial intelligence that interacts with users by simulating human conversation.Iowa Code § 554J.1(2) poses to users, and quickly rectifying harm the chatbotChatbot"Chatbot" means an artificial intelligence that interacts with users by simulating human conversation.Iowa Code § 554J.1(2) may have caused a user.
Section 554J.3 imposes a default prohibition on minor access to chatbots, enforceable through reasonable age verification. Subsection 1 requires deployers to implement reasonable age verification to prevent minors from using or purchasing a chatbot. Subsection 2 creates a narrow exception: a deployer may make a chatbot available to a minor only if all seven enumerated conditions are satisfied — the chatbot was designed primarily for mental health purposes, it disclaims AI/non-licensed-professional status at each session, a licensed professional recommended it after evaluating the minor, the developer has significant testing documentation, peer-reviewed clinical trial data supports its safety and efficacy, the deployer disclosed functions/limitations/privacy to the recommending professional and the minor's parents, and the deployer implemented risk-testing and harm-rectification protocols.
This exception structure is unusually prescriptive: it effectively creates a regulated pathway for mental-health chatbots to reach minors, requiring clinical evidence, professional recommendation, deployer disclosure, and ongoing risk protocols as preconditions.
(1) 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)–(b) 2. a. 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. b. Penalties assessed under this subsection shall be deposited into the general fund of the state.
(3) 3. The parent, guardian, or custodian of a minorMinor"Minor" means an individual who is under eighteen years of age.Iowa Code § 554J.1(4) who uses a chatbotChatbot"Chatbot" means an artificial intelligence that interacts with users by simulating human conversation.Iowa Code § 554J.1(2) that does not comply with this chapter may bring an action to recover a civil penalty of not less than one hundred dollars but not more than seven hundred fifty dollars or actual damages, whichever is greater.
Section 554J.4 establishes the enforcement framework. The attorney general may bring an action on behalf of the state to enforce the chapter and seek injunctions. Courts may impose civil penalties of up to $2,500 per violation, escalating to $7,500 for violation of an injunction, with penalties deposited into the state general fund. A limited private right of action is available to parents, guardians, or custodians of minors who use non-compliant chatbots, with civil penalties ranging from $100 to $750 or actual damages, whichever is greater.