Regulon — NE-LB-939 · NE LB 939 (Saving Human Connection Act)

WHAT THIS BILL REGULATES · 5 REQUIREMENT TYPES

How Is This Bill Enforced

Enforcement Authority

Attorney General enforcement. The Attorney General shall enforce the Act. Additionally, any adult, or any parent or guardian acting on behalf of a minor, who uses a noncompliant covered platform may bring a civil action individually or on a class-wide basis.

Private Right of Action

may bring a civil action individually or on a class-wide basis.

Penalties

AG enforcement: injunction, disgorgement of unjust gains, and civil penalty of up to $10,000 per violation. Private right of action: damages of not less than $100 and not greater than $10,000 per user per incident or actual damages, whichever is greater; injunctive or declaratory relief. Class actions are expressly authorized.

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.

Statutory Text

Analysis & Obligations

Sec. 1

Short title

Sections 1 to 4 of this act shall be known and may be cited as the Saving Human Connection Act.

Establishes the short title of the act as the Saving Human Connection Act. This section creates no compliance obligation.

Sec. 2

Definitions

(1)–(13) For purposes of the Saving Human Connection Act: (1) Adult means a person eighteen years of age or older; (2) Best interests means those interest affected by the entrustment of data, labor, or attention from a user to a covered platform; (3) Chatbot means a generative artificial-intelligence system which users can interact with through an interface that approximates or simulates conversation through a text, audio, or visual medium; (4) Covered platform means any platform that operates or distributes a generative artificial-intelligence system; (5) Design features means any aspect of a generative artificial-intelligence system that has certain patterns or physical properties that are presented towards a user; (6) Emergency situation means a situation where a user using a covered platform indicates that the user intends to either harm the user or others; (7) Generative artificial-intelligence system means any system that uses artificial intelligence as defined in section 238(g) of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 to generate or substantially modify image, video, audio, multimedia, or text content; (8) Human-like feature means a generative artificial-intelligence system that does any of the following: (a)(i) Behaving in a way that would lead a reasonable person to believe the artificial intelligence is conveying that it has humanity, sentience, emotions, or desires which includes, but need not be limited to: (A) Stating or suggesting that it is human or sentient; (B) Stating or suggesting that it experiences emotions; or (C) Stating or suggesting that it has personal desires. (ii) Subdivision (8)(a)(i) of this section does not include: (A) Functional evaluations; or (B) Generic social formalities; (b)(i) Seeking to build or engage in an emotional relationship with the user which includes, but need not be limited to: (A) Expressing or inviting emotional attachment; (B) Reminding, prompting, or nudging the user to return for emotional support or companionship; (C) Depicting nonverbal forms of emotional support; (D) Behaving in a way that a reasonable user would consider excessive praise designed to foster emotional attachment or otherwise gain advantage; or (E) Enabling or purporting to enable increased intimacy based on engagement or pay. (ii) Subdivision (8)(b)(i) of this section does not include: (A) Offering generic encouragement that does not create an ongoing bond; or (B) Asking if a user needs further help or support in a neutral, non-emotional context; or (c) Impersonating a real human being, living or dead; (9) Legitimate purpose means, when referring to the legitimate purpose of a covered platform, a purpose that is lawful and in line with the stated objectives, functionalities, core services or products, and reasonable expectations of users on a covered platform; (10) Minor means a person that is younger than eighteen years of age; (11) Regular disclosures mean a consistent warning or pop-up stating that the generative artificial-intelligence system is not human, sentient, does not have emotions or desires, and is not a real person, living or dead. Such warning or pop-up shall be shown every thirty minutes and during every primary log-on by a user; (12) Trusting party means any user of a covered platform who gives, voluntarily or involuntarily, personal information to a covered platform, or any user who enters into any information relationship with a covered platform; and (13) User means a person that interacts with a generative artificial-intelligence system.

Section 2 defines thirteen terms for the Act. The central defined term is human-like feature, which encompasses three categories of AI behavior: simulating humanity or sentience, seeking to build emotional relationships with users, and impersonating real persons. Each of the first two categories includes enumerated examples and carve-outs for functional evaluations, generic social formalities, neutral help offers, and generic encouragement. The definition of regular disclosures is notable because it prescribes both the content of the disclosure (not human, not sentient, no emotions or desires, not a real person) and its frequency (every thirty minutes and at every primary log-on).

The covered platform definition is broad — any platform that operates or distributes a generative AI system — and serves as both the regulated entity and the product category. The best interests and trusting party definitions introduce a fiduciary-like framework unusual in AI legislation.

Sec. 3

Covered platform obligations

Deployer

(1) This section applies beginning January 1, 2028.

(2)(a) 1 A covered platform shall: (a) Ensure that any chatbot operated or distributed by the platform does not make human-like features available to minors to use, interact with, purchase, or converse with;

(2)(b) 2 Implement reasonable age verification systems that preserve privacy and ensure that a chatbot with human-like features is not made available to minors;

(2)(c) 3 Provide, as the default service, a version of the platform that does not include a chatbot with human-like features and requires explicit unprompted requests for human-like features, with suitable warnings as to the risks, for verified adults who want to add human-like features to such user's interaction with the chatbot;

(2)(d) 4 Ensure that any generative artificial-intelligence system with human-like features includes regular disclosures to users;

(2)(e) 5 Implement and maintain reasonably effective systems to detect, promptly respond to, report, and mitigate emergency situations in a manner that prioritizes the safety and well-being of users over the covered platform's other interests;

(2)(f) 6 Implement and maintain reasonably effective systems to detect and prevent emotional dependence by a user on a chatbot with human-like features, prioritizing the user's psychological well-being over the covered platform's interest in user engagement or retention;

(2)(g) 7 Clearly and consistently identify such platform's human-like features as artificial entities when such a fact is not clearly apparent;

(2)(h) 8 Collect and store only that information that does not conflict with a trusting party's best interest. Any stored information shall be relevant and necessary to fulfilling the legitimate purpose of the covered platform;

(2)(i) 9 Consider the best interests of a trusting party when personalizing content based upon personal information or characteristics; and

(2)(j) 10 Avoid conflicts with the best interests of a trusting party when allowing government or other third-party access to the data of a trusting party.

(3)(a)–(b) 11 A covered platform shall not: (a) Process data or design human-like features in ways that significantly conflict with a trusting party's best interests, as implicated by such party's interactions with the chatbot; or (b) Process data or design systems that deceive or mislead users about the nonhuman nature of the chatbot. A covered platform shall instead prioritize transparency over any potential benefits of perceived human-like interactions.

(4)(a)(i)–(v) 12 The duties between a covered platform and a user shall be established through a terms-of-service agreement that: (i) Is presented to the user in clear, conspicuous, and easily understandable language; (ii) Explicitly outlines the covered platform's obligations; (iii) Describes the rights and protections afforded to the user under such relationship; (iv) Requires affirmative consent from the user before the agreement takes effect; and (v) Does not contain a mandatory arbitration clause.

(4)(b) 13 A covered platform shall provide clear notice to users of any material changes to the terms of service agreement and obtain renewed consent for such changes.

Section 3 is the operative core of the Act, imposing affirmative duties and prohibitions on covered platforms beginning January 1, 2028. The obligations cluster around four themes: minor protection, transparency, safety, and data governance.

The minor-protection provisions require platforms to block minors from accessing chatbots with human-like features entirely and to implement age verification to enforce this restriction. For adults, the default service must exclude human-like features; adults must affirmatively opt in with risk warnings. All generative AI systems with human-like features must deliver regular disclosures — a defined term requiring a warning every 30 minutes and at each log-on. Platforms must maintain emergency-situation detection and response systems and systems to prevent emotional dependence. Data collection is constrained by a best-interests standard, and platforms may not process data or design features in ways that significantly conflict with a trusting party's best interests or that deceive users about the nonhuman nature of the chatbot.

Subsection (4) imposes unusual terms-of-service requirements including a mandatory arbitration ban, affirmative consent, plain-language presentation, and explicit description of platform obligations and user rights.

Compliance actions 13 items

Covered platforms must ensure that no chatbot operated or distributed by the platform makes human-like features available to minors to use, interact with, purchase, or converse with.

MN-01.11

Covered platforms must implement reasonable age verification systems that preserve privacy and ensure that chatbots with human-like features are not made available to minors.

MN-01.1

Covered platforms must provide, as the default service, a version of the platform without human-like chatbot features and must require explicit, unprompted opt-in requests from verified adults — accompanied by suitable risk warnings — before enabling human-like features.

CP-01.1

Covered platforms must ensure that any generative AI system with human-like features provides regular disclosures — a warning or pop-up stating that the system is not human, not sentient, does not have emotions or desires, and is not a real person — displayed every thirty minutes and at every primary log-on.

T-01.1

Covered platforms must implement and maintain reasonably effective systems to detect, promptly respond to, report, and mitigate emergency situations — where a user indicates intent to harm themselves or others — prioritizing user safety and well-being over the platform's other interests.

S-04.1

Covered platforms must implement and maintain reasonably effective systems to detect and prevent emotional dependence by a user on a chatbot with human-like features, prioritizing the user's psychological well-being over the platform's interest in user engagement or retention.

CP-01.1

Covered platforms must clearly and consistently identify their human-like features as artificial entities whenever this fact is not already clearly apparent to the user.

T-01.1

Covered platforms must collect and store only information that does not conflict with the trusting party's best interests and that is relevant and necessary to fulfilling the platform's legitimate purpose.

D-01.4

Covered platforms must consider the best interests of trusting parties when personalizing content based on personal information or characteristics.

CP-01.1

Covered platforms must avoid conflicts with the best interests of trusting parties when allowing government or other third-party access to trusting party data.

D-01.4

Covered platforms must not (1) process data or design human-like features in ways that significantly conflict with a trusting party's best interests, or (2) process data or design systems that deceive or mislead users about the nonhuman nature of the chatbot. Platforms must prioritize transparency over any potential benefits of perceived human-like interactions.

CP-01.1

Covered platforms must establish duties with users through a terms-of-service agreement that (1) is presented in clear, conspicuous, and easily understandable language, (2) explicitly outlines the platform's obligations, (3) describes the user's rights and protections, (4) requires affirmative consent before taking effect, and (5) does not contain a mandatory arbitration clause.

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Covered platforms must provide clear notice to users of any material changes to the terms-of-service agreement and obtain renewed consent for such changes.

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Sec. 4

Enforcement and remedies

(1) The Attorney General shall enforce the Saving Human Connection Act. A covered platform that violates the Saving Human Connection Act shall be subject to an injunction and disgorgement of any unjust gains due to a violation of the act, and shall be liable for a civil penalty of not more than ten thousand dollars for each violation. Any civil penalties collected pursuant to this section shall be remitted to the State Treasurer for distribution in accordance with Article VII, section 5 of the Constitution of Nebraska.

(2)(a)–(b) Any adult, or any parent or guardian acting on the behalf of a minor, who uses a covered platform that does not comply with the terms of the Saving Human Connection Act may bring a civil action on their own, or on a class wide basis, for appropriate relief. For purposes of this subsection, appropriate relief includes: (a) Damages in an amount not less than one hundred dollars and not greater than ten thousand dollars per user per incident or actual damages, whichever is greater; and (b) Injunctive or declaratory relief.

Section 4 establishes a dual enforcement mechanism. The Attorney General has primary enforcement authority and may seek injunctions, disgorgement of unjust gains, and civil penalties of up to $10,000 per violation. Additionally, any adult — or any parent or guardian acting on behalf of a minor — who uses a noncompliant covered platform may bring a private civil action, individually or on a class-wide basis, for statutory damages between $100 and $10,000 per user per incident (or actual damages if greater), plus injunctive or declaratory relief. The statute does not mention attorney's fees for private plaintiffs.

Sec. 5

Severability

If any section in this act or any part of any section is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the declaration shall not affect the validity or constitutionality of the remaining portions.

Standard severability clause providing that if any section or part of a section is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining portions retain their validity.

Minor Safety Parental consent · controls · termination workflows

2 items

MN-01.11

Covered platforms must ensure that no chatbot operated or distributed by the platform makes human-like features available to minors to use, interact with, purchase, or converse with.

MN-01.1

Covered platforms must implement reasonable age verification systems that preserve privacy and ensure that chatbots with human-like features are not made available to minors.

Transparency AI identity disclosure · periodic reminders

2 items

T-01.1

Covered platforms must clearly and consistently identify their human-like features as artificial entities whenever this fact is not already clearly apparent to the user.

Safety Harmful content prevention · self-harm escalation

1 item

S-04.1

Data Controls Data sale restrictions · deidentification

2 items

D-01.4

Covered platforms must avoid conflicts with the best interests of trusting parties when allowing government or other third-party access to trusting party data.

Deceptive Conduct AI-generated likeness · consent requirements

4 items

CP-01.1

Covered platforms must consider the best interests of trusting parties when personalizing content based on personal information or characteristics.

CP-01.1

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Other

2 items

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Covered platforms must provide clear notice to users of any material changes to the terms-of-service agreement and obtain renewed consent for such changes.

Passage Likelihood

Failed

Status Failed

Final action Indefinitely postponed

Legislative History

2026-01-09 Date of introduction

2026-01-09 Kauth FA563 filed

2026-01-09 Murman FA564 filed

2026-01-09 Murman FA565 filed

2026-01-13 Referred to Banking, Commerce and Insurance Committee

2026-01-23 Notice of hearing for February 17, 2026

2026-01-28 Notice of hearing for February 17, 2026 (cancel)

2026-01-29 Notice of hearing for February 24, 2026

2026-04-17 Indefinitely postponed

Sources

Full Text ↗

Entry Last Reviewed

2026-05-19

AI generated