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)–(6) 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 servicea. "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. b. "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 servicea. "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. b. "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 servicea. "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. b. "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 servicea. "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. b. "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 servicea. "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. b. "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 supplies the definitions that delimit the chapter's scope. The most consequential are the layered definition of Conversational AI service — which scopes obligations to AI accessible to the general public whose primary purpose is simulating human conversation — and its six carve-outs (R&D tools, embedded non-conversational features, narrow/discrete-topic outputs, business-to-customer service bots, voice assistants on consumer electronics, and internal-only business tools). These exclusions are broad enough that mainstream customer-service chatbots, Siri/Alexa-style assistants, and most enterprise productivity AI fall outside the chapter entirely.
The Operator definition limits the chapter to entities that both develop and make available the service — explicitly excluding app stores and search engines that merely provide access. Section 554J.6(5) reinforces this by shielding upstream model developers from liability solely because a third party used their model to build a covered service.
(1) 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 servicea. "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. b. "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 servicea. "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. b. "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 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 servicea. "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. b. "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 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 servicea. "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. b. "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 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 servicea. "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. b. "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 servicea. "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. b. "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) 5 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 as appropriate based on relevant risks.
Section 554J.2 imposes the chapter's heightened obligations for minor account holders. Operators must (i) provide an AI-identity disclosure to minors via either a persistent visible disclaimer or session-start-plus-three-hour reminders; (ii) refrain from variable-reward engagement mechanics; (iii) take reasonable measures to prevent the service from producing sexually explicit visual depictions toward minors, urging sexual conduct, or sexually objectifying minors; (iv) prevent emotional-dependence and romantic-simulation outputs (including explicit sentience/human claims, romantic role-play, and adult-minor romantic role-playing); and (v) offer minor and parental account-management tools, with a mandatory parental tool for under-13 minor accounts.
The minor-status trigger is knowledge-based: the chapter applies only when the operator knows or is reasonably certain the user is under 18. There is no general age-verification mandate.
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, or a disclaimer that appears after every three hours of continuous interaction 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 servicea. "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. b. "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), 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 servicea. "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. b. "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 servicea. "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. b. "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 sets the general (non-minor) AI-identity disclosure baseline. The trigger is a reasonable-person-misled standard — the operator must disclose only if a reasonable user interacting with the service would believe they are interacting with a human. The operator may comply via a persistent visible disclaimer or via a recurring disclaimer that appears after every three hours of continuous interaction.
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 servicea. "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. b. "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 every operator to adopt a protocol for the conversational AI service to respond to user prompts regarding suicidal ideation or self-harm. The minimum baseline is making reasonable efforts to refer the user to crisis service providers such as a suicide hotline, crisis text line, or other appropriate crisis service. Unlike California SB 243, the Iowa chapter does not require public posting of the protocol or annual reporting of crisis-referral metrics.
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 servicea. "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. b. "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 servicea. "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. b. "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 a representation that would lead a reasonable user to believe the service is designed to provide professional psychology or behavioral health services for which Iowa licensure under chapters 154B (psychology) or 154D (behavioral science / mental health counseling and marital and family therapy) is required.
(1)–(3) 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. A civil penalty collected under this section shall be deposited into the general fund of the state.
(4) 4. This chapter shall not be construed to create a private right of action under this chapter or any other law.
(5) 5. 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 servicea. "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. b. "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. The Iowa Attorney General has exclusive authority to enforce and to adopt administrative rules under chapter 17A. Remedies are injunctive relief and the greater of actual damages or a $1,000-per-violation civil penalty, capped at $500,000 per operator. Civil penalties go to the state general fund.
Two important limits: (1) the chapter expressly disclaims any private right of action under this chapter or any other law, and (2) it shields upstream AI model developers from liability solely because a third party used the developer's model to create or train a covered conversational AI service — narrowing the chapter's reach to the deploying operator.
This Act applies July 1, 2027.
Section 7 sets the chapter's applicability date as July 1, 2027 — one year after the bill's July 1, 2026 effective date — giving operators a one-year compliance ramp.