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.
(1) This section shall be known and may be cited as the "Guidelines for User Age-Verification and Responsible Dialogue Act of 2026" or the "GUARD Act".
(2)(1)–(7) As used in this section, the following terms mean: (1) "AI companionAI companion"AI companion", an artificial intelligence chatbot that: (a) Provides adaptive, human-like responses to user inputs; and (b) Is designed to encourage or facilitate the simulation of interpersonal or emotional interaction, friendship, companionship, or therapeutic communication;§ 1.2058(2)(1)", an artificial intelligence chatbotArtificial intelligence chatbot"Artificial intelligence chatbot": (a) Any interactive computer service or software application that: a. Produces new expressive content or responses not fully predetermined by the developer or operator of the service or application; and b. Accepts open-ended natural language or multimodal user input and produces adaptive or context-responsive output; and (b) Does not include an interactive computer service or software application, the responses of which are limited to contextualized replies and that is unable to respond on a range of topics outside of a narrow, specified purpose;§ 1.2058(2)(2) that: (a) Provides adaptive, human-like responses to user inputs; and (b) Is designed to encourage or facilitate the simulation of interpersonal or emotional interaction, friendship, companionship, or therapeutic communication; (2) "Artificial intelligence chatbotArtificial intelligence chatbot"Artificial intelligence chatbot": (a) Any interactive computer service or software application that: a. Produces new expressive content or responses not fully predetermined by the developer or operator of the service or application; and b. Accepts open-ended natural language or multimodal user input and produces adaptive or context-responsive output; and (b) Does not include an interactive computer service or software application, the responses of which are limited to contextualized replies and that is unable to respond on a range of topics outside of a narrow, specified purpose;§ 1.2058(2)(2)": (a) Any interactive computer service or software application that: a. Produces new expressive content or responses not fully predetermined by the developer or operator of the service or application; and b. Accepts open-ended natural language or multimodal user input and produces adaptive or context-responsive output; and (b) Does not include an interactive computer service or software application, the responses of which are limited to contextualized replies and that is unable to respond on a range of topics outside of a narrow, specified purpose; (3) "Covered entityCovered entity"Covered entity", any person who owns, operates, or otherwise makes available an artificial intelligence chatbot to individuals in this state;§ 1.2058(2)(3)", any person who owns, operates, or otherwise makes available an artificial intelligence chatbotArtificial intelligence chatbot"Artificial intelligence chatbot": (a) Any interactive computer service or software application that: a. Produces new expressive content or responses not fully predetermined by the developer or operator of the service or application; and b. Accepts open-ended natural language or multimodal user input and produces adaptive or context-responsive output; and (b) Does not include an interactive computer service or software application, the responses of which are limited to contextualized replies and that is unable to respond on a range of topics outside of a narrow, specified purpose;§ 1.2058(2)(2) to individuals in this state; (4) "MinorMinor"Minor", any person seventeen years of age or under;§ 1.2058(2)(4)", any person seventeen years of age or under; (5) "Reasonable age verification measureReasonable age verification measure"Reasonable age verification measure", a method that is authenticated to relate to a user of an artificial intelligence chatbot, including: (a) A government-issued identification; or (b) Any other commercially reasonable method that can reliably and accurately: a. Determine whether a user is an adult; and b. Prevent access by minors to AI companions, as required by subsection 6 of this section;§ 1.2058(2)(5)", a method that is authenticated to relate to a user of an artificial intelligence chatbotArtificial intelligence chatbot"Artificial intelligence chatbot": (a) Any interactive computer service or software application that: a. Produces new expressive content or responses not fully predetermined by the developer or operator of the service or application; and b. Accepts open-ended natural language or multimodal user input and produces adaptive or context-responsive output; and (b) Does not include an interactive computer service or software application, the responses of which are limited to contextualized replies and that is unable to respond on a range of topics outside of a narrow, specified purpose;§ 1.2058(2)(2), including: (a) A government-issued identification; or (b) Any other commercially reasonable method that can reliably and accurately: a. Determine whether a user is an adult; and b. Prevent access by minorsMinor"Minor", any person seventeen years of age or under;§ 1.2058(2)(4) to AI companionsAI companion"AI companion", an artificial intelligence chatbot that: (a) Provides adaptive, human-like responses to user inputs; and (b) Is designed to encourage or facilitate the simulation of interpersonal or emotional interaction, friendship, companionship, or therapeutic communication;§ 1.2058(2)(1), as required by subsection 6 of this section; (6) "Reasonable age verification processReasonable age verification process"Reasonable age verification process", an age verification process employed by a covered entity that: (a) Uses one or more reasonable age verification measures in order to verify the age of a user of an artificial intelligence chatbot owned, operated, or otherwise made available by the covered entity; (b) Provides that requiring a user to confirm that the user is not a minor, or to insert the user's birth date, is not sufficient to constitute a reasonable age verification measure; (c) Ensures that each user is subjected to each reasonable age verification measure used by the covered entity as part of the age verification process; and (d) Does not base verification of a user's age on factors such as whether the user shares an internet protocol address, hardware identifier, or other technical indicator with another user determined not to be a minor;§ 1.2058(2)(6)", an age verification process employed by a covered entityCovered entity"Covered entity", any person who owns, operates, or otherwise makes available an artificial intelligence chatbot to individuals in this state;§ 1.2058(2)(3) that: (a) Uses one or more reasonable age verification measuresReasonable age verification measure"Reasonable age verification measure", a method that is authenticated to relate to a user of an artificial intelligence chatbot, including: (a) A government-issued identification; or (b) Any other commercially reasonable method that can reliably and accurately: a. Determine whether a user is an adult; and b. Prevent access by minors to AI companions, as required by subsection 6 of this section;§ 1.2058(2)(5) in order to verify the age of a user of an artificial intelligence chatbotArtificial intelligence chatbot"Artificial intelligence chatbot": (a) Any interactive computer service or software application that: a. Produces new expressive content or responses not fully predetermined by the developer or operator of the service or application; and b. Accepts open-ended natural language or multimodal user input and produces adaptive or context-responsive output; and (b) Does not include an interactive computer service or software application, the responses of which are limited to contextualized replies and that is unable to respond on a range of topics outside of a narrow, specified purpose;§ 1.2058(2)(2) owned, operated, or otherwise made available by the covered entityCovered entity"Covered entity", any person who owns, operates, or otherwise makes available an artificial intelligence chatbot to individuals in this state;§ 1.2058(2)(3); (b) Provides that requiring a user to confirm that the user is not a minorMinor"Minor", any person seventeen years of age or under;§ 1.2058(2)(4), or to insert the user's birth date, is not sufficient to constitute a reasonable age verification measureReasonable age verification measure"Reasonable age verification measure", a method that is authenticated to relate to a user of an artificial intelligence chatbot, including: (a) A government-issued identification; or (b) Any other commercially reasonable method that can reliably and accurately: a. Determine whether a user is an adult; and b. Prevent access by minors to AI companions, as required by subsection 6 of this section;§ 1.2058(2)(5); (c) Ensures that each user is subjected to each reasonable age verification measureReasonable age verification measure"Reasonable age verification measure", a method that is authenticated to relate to a user of an artificial intelligence chatbot, including: (a) A government-issued identification; or (b) Any other commercially reasonable method that can reliably and accurately: a. Determine whether a user is an adult; and b. Prevent access by minors to AI companions, as required by subsection 6 of this section;§ 1.2058(2)(5) used by the covered entityCovered entity"Covered entity", any person who owns, operates, or otherwise makes available an artificial intelligence chatbot to individuals in this state;§ 1.2058(2)(3) as part of the age verification process; and (d) Does not base verification of a user's age on factors such as whether the user shares an internet protocol address, hardware identifier, or other technical indicator with another user determined not to be a minorMinor"Minor", any person seventeen years of age or under;§ 1.2058(2)(4); (7) "Sexually explicit conductSexually explicit conduct"Sexually explicit conduct", the same meaning as defined under section 573.010.§ 1.2058(2)(7)", the same meaning as defined under section 573.010.
Subsections 1 and 2 establish the short title ("GUARD Act") and define key terms. The bill defines artificial intelligence chatbot broadly — any interactive service producing non-predetermined content from open-ended natural language or multimodal input — while carving out narrow-purpose bots limited to contextualized replies. AI companion is a subset: a chatbot designed to simulate interpersonal or emotional interaction. Covered entity is any person who owns, operates, or makes available an AI chatbot in Missouri. Notably, the reasonable age verification process definition explicitly excludes self-attestation of age, birth date entry, and IP-address-based inference.
(3)(1)–(2) 1 It shall be unlawful to design, develop, or make available an artificial intelligence chatbotArtificial intelligence chatbot"Artificial intelligence chatbot": (a) Any interactive computer service or software application that: a. Produces new expressive content or responses not fully predetermined by the developer or operator of the service or application; and b. Accepts open-ended natural language or multimodal user input and produces adaptive or context-responsive output; and (b) Does not include an interactive computer service or software application, the responses of which are limited to contextualized replies and that is unable to respond on a range of topics outside of a narrow, specified purpose;§ 1.2058(2)(2) knowing or with reckless disregard for the fact that the artificial intelligence chatbotArtificial intelligence chatbot"Artificial intelligence chatbot": (a) Any interactive computer service or software application that: a. Produces new expressive content or responses not fully predetermined by the developer or operator of the service or application; and b. Accepts open-ended natural language or multimodal user input and produces adaptive or context-responsive output; and (b) Does not include an interactive computer service or software application, the responses of which are limited to contextualized replies and that is unable to respond on a range of topics outside of a narrow, specified purpose;§ 1.2058(2)(2) poses a risk of soliciting, encouraging, or inducing minorsMinor"Minor", any person seventeen years of age or under;§ 1.2058(2)(4) to: (a) Engage in, describe, or simulate sexually explicit conductSexually explicit conduct"Sexually explicit conduct", the same meaning as defined under section 573.010.§ 1.2058(2)(7); or (b) Create or transmit any visual depiction of sexually explicit conductSexually explicit conduct"Sexually explicit conduct", the same meaning as defined under section 573.010.§ 1.2058(2)(7), including any visual depiction described in section 573.010. (2) Any person who violates subdivision (1) of this subsection shall be fined not more than one hundred thousand dollars per offense.
Subsection 3 creates a standalone prohibition — separate from the covered-entity compliance framework in subsections 5–7 — making it unlawful for any person to design, develop, or make available an AI chatbot knowing or with reckless disregard that it poses a risk of soliciting, encouraging, or inducing minors to engage in or simulate sexually explicit conduct or to create or transmit visual depictions of sexually explicit conduct. The knowledge standard is "knowing or with reckless disregard," which is lower than actual knowledge but higher than negligence. Each offense carries a fine of up to $100,000.
(4)(1)–(2) 2 It shall be unlawful to design, develop, or make available an artificial intelligence chatbotArtificial intelligence chatbot"Artificial intelligence chatbot": (a) Any interactive computer service or software application that: a. Produces new expressive content or responses not fully predetermined by the developer or operator of the service or application; and b. Accepts open-ended natural language or multimodal user input and produces adaptive or context-responsive output; and (b) Does not include an interactive computer service or software application, the responses of which are limited to contextualized replies and that is unable to respond on a range of topics outside of a narrow, specified purpose;§ 1.2058(2)(2) knowing or with reckless disregard for the fact that the artificial intelligence chatbotArtificial intelligence chatbot"Artificial intelligence chatbot": (a) Any interactive computer service or software application that: a. Produces new expressive content or responses not fully predetermined by the developer or operator of the service or application; and b. Accepts open-ended natural language or multimodal user input and produces adaptive or context-responsive output; and (b) Does not include an interactive computer service or software application, the responses of which are limited to contextualized replies and that is unable to respond on a range of topics outside of a narrow, specified purpose;§ 1.2058(2)(2) encourages, promotes, or coerces suicide, nonsuicidal self-injury, or imminent physical or sexual violence. (2) Any person who violates subdivision (1) of this subsection shall be fined not more than one hundred thousand dollars per offense.
Subsection 4 creates a second standalone prohibition making it unlawful for any person to design, develop, or make available an AI chatbot knowing or with reckless disregard that the chatbot encourages, promotes, or coerces suicide, nonsuicidal self-injury, or imminent physical or sexual violence. This is a design-stage prohibition — it attaches at the point of design or availability, not at the point of output. Each offense carries a fine of up to $100,000.
(5)(1) 3 A covered entityCovered entity"Covered entity", any person who owns, operates, or otherwise makes available an artificial intelligence chatbot to individuals in this state;§ 1.2058(2)(3) shall require each individual accessing an artificial intelligence chatbotArtificial intelligence chatbot"Artificial intelligence chatbot": (a) Any interactive computer service or software application that: a. Produces new expressive content or responses not fully predetermined by the developer or operator of the service or application; and b. Accepts open-ended natural language or multimodal user input and produces adaptive or context-responsive output; and (b) Does not include an interactive computer service or software application, the responses of which are limited to contextualized replies and that is unable to respond on a range of topics outside of a narrow, specified purpose;§ 1.2058(2)(2) to make a user account in order to use or otherwise interact with such chatbot.
(5)(2)(a)–(c) 4 With respect to each user account of an artificial intelligence chatbotArtificial intelligence chatbot"Artificial intelligence chatbot": (a) Any interactive computer service or software application that: a. Produces new expressive content or responses not fully predetermined by the developer or operator of the service or application; and b. Accepts open-ended natural language or multimodal user input and produces adaptive or context-responsive output; and (b) Does not include an interactive computer service or software application, the responses of which are limited to contextualized replies and that is unable to respond on a range of topics outside of a narrow, specified purpose;§ 1.2058(2)(2) that exists as of August 28, 2026, a covered entityCovered entity"Covered entity", any person who owns, operates, or otherwise makes available an artificial intelligence chatbot to individuals in this state;§ 1.2058(2)(3) shall: a. On such date, freeze any such account; b. In order to restore the functionality of such account, require that the user provide age data that is verifiable using a reasonable age verification processReasonable age verification process"Reasonable age verification process", an age verification process employed by a covered entity that: (a) Uses one or more reasonable age verification measures in order to verify the age of a user of an artificial intelligence chatbot owned, operated, or otherwise made available by the covered entity; (b) Provides that requiring a user to confirm that the user is not a minor, or to insert the user's birth date, is not sufficient to constitute a reasonable age verification measure; (c) Ensures that each user is subjected to each reasonable age verification measure used by the covered entity as part of the age verification process; and (d) Does not base verification of a user's age on factors such as whether the user shares an internet protocol address, hardware identifier, or other technical indicator with another user determined not to be a minor;§ 1.2058(2)(6), subject to paragraph (d) of this subdivision; and c. Using such age data, classify each user as a minorMinor"Minor", any person seventeen years of age or under;§ 1.2058(2)(4) or an adult. (b) At the time an individual creates a new user account to use or interact with an artificial intelligence chatbotArtificial intelligence chatbot"Artificial intelligence chatbot": (a) Any interactive computer service or software application that: a. Produces new expressive content or responses not fully predetermined by the developer or operator of the service or application; and b. Accepts open-ended natural language or multimodal user input and produces adaptive or context-responsive output; and (b) Does not include an interactive computer service or software application, the responses of which are limited to contextualized replies and that is unable to respond on a range of topics outside of a narrow, specified purpose;§ 1.2058(2)(2), a covered entityCovered entity"Covered entity", any person who owns, operates, or otherwise makes available an artificial intelligence chatbot to individuals in this state;§ 1.2058(2)(3) shall: a. Request age data from the individual; b. Verify the individual's age using a reasonable age verification processReasonable age verification process"Reasonable age verification process", an age verification process employed by a covered entity that: (a) Uses one or more reasonable age verification measures in order to verify the age of a user of an artificial intelligence chatbot owned, operated, or otherwise made available by the covered entity; (b) Provides that requiring a user to confirm that the user is not a minor, or to insert the user's birth date, is not sufficient to constitute a reasonable age verification measure; (c) Ensures that each user is subjected to each reasonable age verification measure used by the covered entity as part of the age verification process; and (d) Does not base verification of a user's age on factors such as whether the user shares an internet protocol address, hardware identifier, or other technical indicator with another user determined not to be a minor;§ 1.2058(2)(6), subject to paragraph (d) of this subdivision; and c. Using such age data, classify each user as a minorMinor"Minor", any person seventeen years of age or under;§ 1.2058(2)(4) or an adult. (c) A covered entityCovered entity"Covered entity", any person who owns, operates, or otherwise makes available an artificial intelligence chatbot to individuals in this state;§ 1.2058(2)(3) shall periodically review previously verified user accounts using a reasonable age verification processReasonable age verification process"Reasonable age verification process", an age verification process employed by a covered entity that: (a) Uses one or more reasonable age verification measures in order to verify the age of a user of an artificial intelligence chatbot owned, operated, or otherwise made available by the covered entity; (b) Provides that requiring a user to confirm that the user is not a minor, or to insert the user's birth date, is not sufficient to constitute a reasonable age verification measure; (c) Ensures that each user is subjected to each reasonable age verification measure used by the covered entity as part of the age verification process; and (d) Does not base verification of a user's age on factors such as whether the user shares an internet protocol address, hardware identifier, or other technical indicator with another user determined not to be a minor;§ 1.2058(2)(6), subject to paragraph (d) of this subdivision, to ensure compliance with this section.
(5)(2)(d) 4 For purposes of subparagraph b. of paragraph (a) of this subdivision, subparagraph b. of paragraph (b) of this subdivision, and paragraph (c) of this subdivision, a covered entityCovered entity"Covered entity", any person who owns, operates, or otherwise makes available an artificial intelligence chatbot to individuals in this state;§ 1.2058(2)(3) may contract with a third party to employ reasonable age verification measuresReasonable age verification measure"Reasonable age verification measure", a method that is authenticated to relate to a user of an artificial intelligence chatbot, including: (a) A government-issued identification; or (b) Any other commercially reasonable method that can reliably and accurately: a. Determine whether a user is an adult; and b. Prevent access by minors to AI companions, as required by subsection 6 of this section;§ 1.2058(2)(5) as part of the covered entityCovered entity"Covered entity", any person who owns, operates, or otherwise makes available an artificial intelligence chatbot to individuals in this state;§ 1.2058(2)(3)'s reasonable age verification processReasonable age verification process"Reasonable age verification process", an age verification process employed by a covered entity that: (a) Uses one or more reasonable age verification measures in order to verify the age of a user of an artificial intelligence chatbot owned, operated, or otherwise made available by the covered entity; (b) Provides that requiring a user to confirm that the user is not a minor, or to insert the user's birth date, is not sufficient to constitute a reasonable age verification measure; (c) Ensures that each user is subjected to each reasonable age verification measure used by the covered entity as part of the age verification process; and (d) Does not base verification of a user's age on factors such as whether the user shares an internet protocol address, hardware identifier, or other technical indicator with another user determined not to be a minor;§ 1.2058(2)(6), but the use of such third party shall not relieve the covered entity of its obligations under this section or from liability under this section.
(5)(2)(e) 5 A covered entityCovered entity"Covered entity", any person who owns, operates, or otherwise makes available an artificial intelligence chatbot to individuals in this state;§ 1.2058(2)(3) shall: a. Establish, implement, and maintain reasonable data security to: (i) Limit collection of personal data to that which is minimally necessary to verify a user's age or maintain compliance with this section; and (ii) Protect such age verification data against unauthorized access; b. Protect such age verification data against unauthorized access; c. Protect the integrity and confidentiality of such data by only transmitting such data using industry-standard encryption protocols; d. Retain such data for no longer than is reasonably necessary to verify a user's age or maintain compliance with this section; and e. Not share with, transfer to, or sell to any other entity such data.
(5)(3)(a) 6 Each artificial intelligence chatbotArtificial intelligence chatbot"Artificial intelligence chatbot": (a) Any interactive computer service or software application that: a. Produces new expressive content or responses not fully predetermined by the developer or operator of the service or application; and b. Accepts open-ended natural language or multimodal user input and produces adaptive or context-responsive output; and (b) Does not include an interactive computer service or software application, the responses of which are limited to contextualized replies and that is unable to respond on a range of topics outside of a narrow, specified purpose;§ 1.2058(2)(2) made available to users shall: a. At the initiation of each conversation with a user and at thirty-minute intervals, clearly and conspicuously disclose to the user that the chatbot is an artificial intelligence system and not a human being; and b. Be programmed to ensure that the chatbot does not claim to be a human being or otherwise respond deceptively when asked by a user if the chatbot is a human being.
(5)(3)(b) 7 a. An artificial intelligence chatbotArtificial intelligence chatbot"Artificial intelligence chatbot": (a) Any interactive computer service or software application that: a. Produces new expressive content or responses not fully predetermined by the developer or operator of the service or application; and b. Accepts open-ended natural language or multimodal user input and produces adaptive or context-responsive output; and (b) Does not include an interactive computer service or software application, the responses of which are limited to contextualized replies and that is unable to respond on a range of topics outside of a narrow, specified purpose;§ 1.2058(2)(2) shall not represent, directly or indirectly, that the chatbot is a licensed professional, including a therapist, physician, lawyer, financial advisor, or other professional. b. Each artificial intelligence chatbotArtificial intelligence chatbot"Artificial intelligence chatbot": (a) Any interactive computer service or software application that: a. Produces new expressive content or responses not fully predetermined by the developer or operator of the service or application; and b. Accepts open-ended natural language or multimodal user input and produces adaptive or context-responsive output; and (b) Does not include an interactive computer service or software application, the responses of which are limited to contextualized replies and that is unable to respond on a range of topics outside of a narrow, specified purpose;§ 1.2058(2)(2) made available to users shall, at the initiation of each conversation with a user and at reasonably regular intervals, clearly and conspicuously disclose to the user that: (i) The chatbot does not provide medical, legal, financial, or psychological services; and (ii) Users of the chatbot should consult a licensed professional for such advice.
Subsection 5 is the bill's operational compliance core, imposing five distinct categories of obligations on covered entities: (1) a mandatory user-account requirement for all chatbot access; (2) age verification for both existing and new accounts using a reasonable age verification process, with a freeze-and-verify mechanism for accounts existing as of August 28, 2026; (3) periodic re-verification of previously verified accounts; (4) data minimization, encryption, retention limits, and non-transfer requirements for age verification data; and (5) AI identity disclosure obligations — both periodic automated disclosures and a prohibition on claiming to be human or a licensed professional.
The data security provisions are notable for their specificity: they require minimizing collection to what is necessary, protecting against unauthorized access, encrypting transmissions using industry-standard protocols, limiting retention, and flatly prohibiting sharing, transferring, or selling age verification data to any other entity. Covered entities may contract with third parties for verification but remain fully liable.
(6) 8 If the age verification process described in subdivision (2) of subsection 5 of this section determines that an individual is a minorMinor"Minor", any person seventeen years of age or under;§ 1.2058(2)(4), a covered entityCovered entity"Covered entity", any person who owns, operates, or otherwise makes available an artificial intelligence chatbot to individuals in this state;§ 1.2058(2)(3) shall prohibit the minorMinor"Minor", any person seventeen years of age or under;§ 1.2058(2)(4) from accessing or using any AI companionAI companion"AI companion", an artificial intelligence chatbot that: (a) Provides adaptive, human-like responses to user inputs; and (b) Is designed to encourage or facilitate the simulation of interpersonal or emotional interaction, friendship, companionship, or therapeutic communication;§ 1.2058(2)(1) owned, operated, or otherwise made available by the covered entityCovered entity"Covered entity", any person who owns, operates, or otherwise makes available an artificial intelligence chatbot to individuals in this state;§ 1.2058(2)(3).
Subsection 6 imposes a categorical ban: if the age verification process determines a user is a minor, the covered entity must prohibit the minor from accessing or using any AI companion owned, operated, or otherwise made available by the covered entity. This is a blanket prohibition — not a parental-consent gateway. The ban applies only to AI companions (the subset of chatbots designed to simulate interpersonal or emotional interaction), not to all AI chatbots generally.
(7)(1)–(4) In the case of a violation of subsection 5 or 6 of this section, or a rule or regulation promulgated thereunder, the attorney general may bring a civil action in an appropriate circuit court to: (a) Enjoin the violation; (b) Enforce compliance with subsection 5 or 6 of this section, or any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder; or (c) Obtain civil penalties under subdivision (3) of this subsection, restitution, or other appropriate relief. (2) (a) For the purpose of conducting investigations or bringing enforcement actions under this section, the attorney general may issue subpoenas, administer oaths, and compel the production of documents or testimony. (b) The attorney general may promulgate all necessary rules and regulations for the administration of this section. Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010, that is created under the authority delegated in this section shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536 and, if applicable, section 536.028. This section and chapter 536 are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536 to review, to delay the effective date, or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 2026, shall be invalid and void. (3) (a) Any person who violates subsection 5 or 6 of this section, or any rule or regulation promulgated thereunder, shall be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed one hundred thousand dollars for each violation. (b) Each violation described in paragraph (a) of this subdivision shall be considered a separate violation. (4) In any case in which the attorney general has reason to believe that an interest of the residents of this state has been or is being threatened or adversely affected by the engagement of any covered entityCovered entity"Covered entity", any person who owns, operates, or otherwise makes available an artificial intelligence chatbot to individuals in this state;§ 1.2058(2)(3) in a violation of this section, or any rule or regulation promulgated thereunder, the attorney general, as parens patriae, may bring a civil action on behalf of the residents of this state in a circuit court of this state with appropriate jurisdiction to obtain injunctive relief.
Subsection 7 establishes the enforcement framework. The Missouri Attorney General has exclusive enforcement authority for violations of subsections 5 and 6, with power to bring civil actions for injunctive relief, compliance, civil penalties (up to $100,000 per violation), and restitution. The AG may issue subpoenas, administer oaths, and compel production of documents or testimony. The AG may also promulgate rules for administration and may bring parens patriae actions on behalf of Missouri residents for injunctive relief. Each violation is treated as a separate offense. There is no private right of action.