THE BILL ITSELF
HB 659
Interactions with Artificial Intelligence
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A bill to be entitled
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An act relating to interactions with artificial
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intelligence; creating s. 501.172, F.S.; providing
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definitions; requiring operators of companion chatbot
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platforms to display specified information on any
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application, browser, or format used to access
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companion chatbots on the platform and to prevent such
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chatbots from interacting with users unless specified
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protocols are maintained; requiring such operators to
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verify the age of users and to take specified actions
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for users who are minors; requiring such operators to
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file specified reports with the Department of Legal
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Affairs; providing that a violation constitutes an
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unfair or deceptive act or practice; providing for
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civil actions; providing construction; providing an
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effective date.
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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Section 1. Section 501.172, Florida Statutes, is created
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to read:
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501.172 Companion chatbots.—
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(1) As used in this section, the term:
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(a) "AI-generated" means any image, video, or audio that
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is generated or modified by artificial intelligence which may
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portray realistic human likenesses or depictions.
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(b) "Companion chatbot" means an artificial intelligence
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system with a natural language interface that provides adaptive,
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human-like responses to user inputs and is capable of meeting a
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user's social needs, including by exhibiting anthropomorphic
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features and being able to sustain a relationship across
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multiple interactions. The term does not include:
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1. A bot used only for customer service, business
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operational purposes, or productivity and analysis related to
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source information, internal research, or technical assistance;
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2. A bot that is a feature of a video game and is limited
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to replies related to the video game and that cannot discuss
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topics related to mental health, self-harm, sexually explicit
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conduct, or maintain a dialogue on other topics unrelated to the
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video game; or
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3. A stand-alone consumer electronic device that functions
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as a speaker and voice command interface, acts as a voice-
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activated virtual assistant, and does not sustain a relationship
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across multiple interactions or generate outputs that are likely
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to elicit emotional responses in the user.
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(c) "Operator" means a person who makes a companion
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chatbot platform available to a user in this state.
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(d) "Sexually explicit conduct" means actual or simulated
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sexual intercourse, bestiality, masturbation, sadistic or
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masochistic abuse, or lascivious exhibition of the genitals or
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pubic area.
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(2) An operator shall clearly and conspicuously display
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the following notice on any application, browser, or other
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format used to access companion chatbots on the operator's
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platform: "Companion chatbots are AI-generated and not human.
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Companion chatbots may not be suitable for some minors."
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(3)(a) An operator shall prevent a companion chatbot on
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the platform from interacting with users unless the operator
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maintains a protocol to prevent the production of suicidal
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ideation, suicide, or self-harm content.
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(b) At a minimum, the protocol must include a notification
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that refers the user to the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline call
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center if the user expresses suicidal ideation, or intent to
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commit suicide or to self-harm.
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(c) The protocol must include mechanisms to:
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1. Detect, remove, and respond to expressions of suicidal
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ideation, or intent to commit suicide or to self-harm by users.
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2. Prohibit a companion chatbot from discussing suicidal
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ideation, suicide, or self-harm with users.
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3. Measure suicidal ideation by using evidence-based
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methods.
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(d) The operator shall publish the protocol on the
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platform.
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(4)(a) An operator must offer anonymous age verification
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and standard age verification pursuant to s. 501.1737 for user
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access to a companion chatbot on the platform.
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(b) For a user the operator knows is a minor, the operator
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shall do all of the following:
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1. Disclose to the user that he or she is interacting with
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artificial intelligence.
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2. Provide a clear and conspicuous default notification at
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least every 3 hours for continuing companion chatbot
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interactions reminding the user to take a break from the
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interaction and that the companion chatbot is AI-generated and
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not human.
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3. Implement reasonable measures to prevent a companion
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chatbot from producing visual material of sexually explicit
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conduct or directly stating that the user should engage in
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sexually explicit conduct.
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(5)(a) Beginning July 1, 2027, each operator shall submit
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to the Department of Legal Affairs an annual report that
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includes all of the following:
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1. The number of times in the preceding calendar year the
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operator has issued a 988 suicide and crisis lifeline call
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center referral notification.
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2. The protocol for detecting, removing, and responding to
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expressions of suicidal ideation, or intent to committee suicide
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or to self-harm by users.
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3. The protocol for prohibiting a companion chatbot from
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discussing suicidal ideation, suicide, or self-harm with users.
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(b) The report may not include any identifiers or personal
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information about users.
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(6) A violation of this section constitutes an unfair or
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deceptive act or practice as specified in s. 501.204 and shall
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be enforced by civil action by the Attorney General. The
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Department of Legal Affairs must notify the operator of any
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suspected violation and allow the operator 30 calendar days to
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cure the alleged violation before initiating enforcement action.
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This section does not create a private right of action.
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(7) This section does not relieve an operator from any
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duties, remedies, or obligations imposed by any other law.
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Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.