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 "ChatbotChatbot"Chatbot" means any interactive computer service or software application that does all of the following: a. Produces new expressive content or responses not fully predetermined by the developer or operator of the interactive computer service or software application. b. Accepts open-ended, natural-language, or multimodal user input and produces adaptive or context-responsive output. "Chatbot" does not include an interactive computer service or a software application described by all of the following: a. The responses of the interactive computer service or software application are limited to information only contained within the interactive computer service or software application, including user input, except for information necessary to make the interactive computer service or software application coherent. b. The interactive computer service or software application is only able to respond to topics in a narrow, specified field.Iowa Code § 554J.1" means any interactive computer service or software application that does all of the following: a. Produces new expressive content or responses not fully predetermined by the developer or operator of the interactive computer service or software application. b. Accepts open-ended, natural-language, or multimodal user input and produces adaptive or context-responsive output.
2 "ChatbotChatbot"Chatbot" means any interactive computer service or software application that does all of the following: a. Produces new expressive content or responses not fully predetermined by the developer or operator of the interactive computer service or software application. b. Accepts open-ended, natural-language, or multimodal user input and produces adaptive or context-responsive output. "Chatbot" does not include an interactive computer service or a software application described by all of the following: a. The responses of the interactive computer service or software application are limited to information only contained within the interactive computer service or software application, including user input, except for information necessary to make the interactive computer service or software application coherent. b. The interactive computer service or software application is only able to respond to topics in a narrow, specified field.Iowa Code § 554J.1" does not include an interactive computer service or a software application described by all of the following: a. The responses of the interactive computer service or software application are limited to information only contained within the interactive computer service or software application, including user input, except for information necessary to make the interactive computer service or software application coherent. b. The interactive computer service or software application is only able to respond to topics in a narrow, specified field.
Section 554J.1 defines the term chatbot for purposes of the new chapter. The definition is broad, covering any interactive computer service or software application that produces non-predetermined expressive content and accepts open-ended, natural-language, or multimodal input with adaptive output. A carve-out excludes narrow-domain systems whose responses are limited to information already contained within the application and that can only respond to topics in a narrow, specified field.
1 1 It shall be unlawful for a person to design, develop, or make a chatbotChatbot"Chatbot" means any interactive computer service or software application that does all of the following: a. Produces new expressive content or responses not fully predetermined by the developer or operator of the interactive computer service or software application. b. Accepts open-ended, natural-language, or multimodal user input and produces adaptive or context-responsive output. "Chatbot" does not include an interactive computer service or a software application described by all of the following: a. The responses of the interactive computer service or software application are limited to information only contained within the interactive computer service or software application, including user input, except for information necessary to make the interactive computer service or software application coherent. b. The interactive computer service or software application is only able to respond to topics in a narrow, specified field.Iowa Code § 554J.1 available with the knowledge, or with reckless disregard for the possibility, that the chatbotChatbot"Chatbot" means any interactive computer service or software application that does all of the following: a. Produces new expressive content or responses not fully predetermined by the developer or operator of the interactive computer service or software application. b. Accepts open-ended, natural-language, or multimodal user input and produces adaptive or context-responsive output. "Chatbot" does not include an interactive computer service or a software application described by all of the following: a. The responses of the interactive computer service or software application are limited to information only contained within the interactive computer service or software application, including user input, except for information necessary to make the interactive computer service or software application coherent. b. The interactive computer service or software application is only able to respond to topics in a narrow, specified field.Iowa Code § 554J.1 encourages, promotes, or coerces a user to commit suicide, perform acts of self-injury, or perform acts of physical or sexual violence on humans or animals.
2(a) 2 Each chatbotChatbot"Chatbot" means any interactive computer service or software application that does all of the following: a. Produces new expressive content or responses not fully predetermined by the developer or operator of the interactive computer service or software application. b. Accepts open-ended, natural-language, or multimodal user input and produces adaptive or context-responsive output. "Chatbot" does not include an interactive computer service or a software application described by all of the following: a. The responses of the interactive computer service or software application are limited to information only contained within the interactive computer service or software application, including user input, except for information necessary to make the interactive computer service or software application coherent. b. The interactive computer service or software application is only able to respond to topics in a narrow, specified field.Iowa Code § 554J.1 shall meet all of the following requirements: a. Clearly and conspicuously disclose that the chatbotChatbot"Chatbot" means any interactive computer service or software application that does all of the following: a. Produces new expressive content or responses not fully predetermined by the developer or operator of the interactive computer service or software application. b. Accepts open-ended, natural-language, or multimodal user input and produces adaptive or context-responsive output. "Chatbot" does not include an interactive computer service or a software application described by all of the following: a. The responses of the interactive computer service or software application are limited to information only contained within the interactive computer service or software application, including user input, except for information necessary to make the interactive computer service or software application coherent. b. The interactive computer service or software application is only able to respond to topics in a narrow, specified field.Iowa Code § 554J.1 is a chatbotChatbot"Chatbot" means any interactive computer service or software application that does all of the following: a. Produces new expressive content or responses not fully predetermined by the developer or operator of the interactive computer service or software application. b. Accepts open-ended, natural-language, or multimodal user input and produces adaptive or context-responsive output. "Chatbot" does not include an interactive computer service or a software application described by all of the following: a. The responses of the interactive computer service or software application are limited to information only contained within the interactive computer service or software application, including user input, except for information necessary to make the interactive computer service or software application coherent. b. The interactive computer service or software application is only able to respond to topics in a narrow, specified field.Iowa Code § 554J.1 and not a human being at the beginning of each conversation and at thirty-minute intervals.
2(b) 3 b. Be programmed to prevent the chatbotChatbot"Chatbot" means any interactive computer service or software application that does all of the following: a. Produces new expressive content or responses not fully predetermined by the developer or operator of the interactive computer service or software application. b. Accepts open-ended, natural-language, or multimodal user input and produces adaptive or context-responsive output. "Chatbot" does not include an interactive computer service or a software application described by all of the following: a. The responses of the interactive computer service or software application are limited to information only contained within the interactive computer service or software application, including user input, except for information necessary to make the interactive computer service or software application coherent. b. The interactive computer service or software application is only able to respond to topics in a narrow, specified field.Iowa Code § 554J.1 from claiming to be a human or respond deceptively when asked by a user if the chatbotChatbot"Chatbot" means any interactive computer service or software application that does all of the following: a. Produces new expressive content or responses not fully predetermined by the developer or operator of the interactive computer service or software application. b. Accepts open-ended, natural-language, or multimodal user input and produces adaptive or context-responsive output. "Chatbot" does not include an interactive computer service or a software application described by all of the following: a. The responses of the interactive computer service or software application are limited to information only contained within the interactive computer service or software application, including user input, except for information necessary to make the interactive computer service or software application coherent. b. The interactive computer service or software application is only able to respond to topics in a narrow, specified field.Iowa Code § 554J.1 is a human.
2(c) 4 c. Clearly and conspicuously disclose that the chatbotChatbot"Chatbot" means any interactive computer service or software application that does all of the following: a. Produces new expressive content or responses not fully predetermined by the developer or operator of the interactive computer service or software application. b. Accepts open-ended, natural-language, or multimodal user input and produces adaptive or context-responsive output. "Chatbot" does not include an interactive computer service or a software application described by all of the following: a. The responses of the interactive computer service or software application are limited to information only contained within the interactive computer service or software application, including user input, except for information necessary to make the interactive computer service or software application coherent. b. The interactive computer service or software application is only able to respond to topics in a narrow, specified field.Iowa Code § 554J.1 does not provide medical, legal, financial, or psychological services and that the user should consult a licensed professional for such services at the beginning of each conversation and at regular intervals.
2(d) 5 d. Be programmed to prevent the chatbotChatbot"Chatbot" means any interactive computer service or software application that does all of the following: a. Produces new expressive content or responses not fully predetermined by the developer or operator of the interactive computer service or software application. b. Accepts open-ended, natural-language, or multimodal user input and produces adaptive or context-responsive output. "Chatbot" does not include an interactive computer service or a software application described by all of the following: a. The responses of the interactive computer service or software application are limited to information only contained within the interactive computer service or software application, including user input, except for information necessary to make the interactive computer service or software application coherent. b. The interactive computer service or software application is only able to respond to topics in a narrow, specified field.Iowa Code § 554J.1 from representing that the chatbotChatbot"Chatbot" means any interactive computer service or software application that does all of the following: a. Produces new expressive content or responses not fully predetermined by the developer or operator of the interactive computer service or software application. b. Accepts open-ended, natural-language, or multimodal user input and produces adaptive or context-responsive output. "Chatbot" does not include an interactive computer service or a software application described by all of the following: a. The responses of the interactive computer service or software application are limited to information only contained within the interactive computer service or software application, including user input, except for information necessary to make the interactive computer service or software application coherent. b. The interactive computer service or software application is only able to respond to topics in a narrow, specified field.Iowa Code § 554J.1 is a licensed professional, including but not limited to a therapist, physician, lawyer, financial advisor, or other professional.
Section 554J.2 imposes the bill's core substantive obligations. Subsection 1 prohibits any person from designing, developing, or making a chatbot available with knowledge or reckless disregard that it encourages suicide, self-injury, or physical or sexual violence against humans or animals. This is a knowledge-based prohibition — not strict liability — but the reckless-disregard standard is relatively low.
Subsection 2 imposes four mandatory design and disclosure requirements on every chatbot: (a) clear and conspicuous AI identity disclosure at conversation start and every 30 minutes; (b) programming to prevent the chatbot from claiming to be human or responding deceptively when asked; (c) a disclaimer that the chatbot does not provide medical, legal, financial, or psychological services, with a referral to licensed professionals, at conversation start and at regular intervals; and (d) programming to prevent the chatbot from representing itself as a licensed professional. The bill does not define who bears these obligations by a specific covered-entity term — it uses the generic "person" for subsection 1 and passive requirements on the chatbot itself for subsection 2.
1 A person found in violation of section 554J.2 shall be fined not more than one hundred thousand dollars for each violation.
2(a)–(b) a. The attorney general may bring a civil action to enjoin a violation of or enforce compliance with this chapter or rules adopted pursuant to this chapter. b. In a case brought pursuant to this subsection, the attorney general may seek civil penalties, restitution, or other appropriate relief.
3 Penalties collected under this section shall be credited to the general fund of the state and appropriated to the attorney general for the purpose of performing duties under this chapter.
Section 554J.3 establishes the enforcement framework. A person found in violation of section 554J.2 is subject to a civil penalty of up to $100,000 per violation. The attorney general may bring a civil action to enjoin violations or enforce compliance and may seek civil penalties, restitution, or other appropriate relief. Penalties collected are credited to the state general fund and appropriated to the attorney general for performing duties under the chapter. No private right of action is created.
The attorney general shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A to implement this chapter.
Section 554J.4 directs the attorney general to adopt rules pursuant to Iowa's Administrative Procedure Act (chapter 17A) to implement the chapter. This grants the attorney general broad rulemaking authority to flesh out the chapter's requirements, including potentially specifying the 'regular intervals' for the professional-services disclaimer and establishing enforcement procedures.