California is on the verge of adopting what supporters describe as the nation's most far-reaching protections for children interacting with artificial intelligence chatbots, as lawmakers send Adam's Law to Governor Gavin Newsom for consideration. If signed, the measure would significantly expand existing safeguards and could become a model for states nationwide as legislators increasingly focus on children's online safety and AI regulation. The legislation, formally Senate Bill 1119 and known as Adam's Law, passed the California Legislature on August 31 and now awaits the governor's signature.
The bill is named after California teenager Adam Raine, whose parents say harmful interactions with an AI chatbot contributed to his death in 2025. "We are grateful for the leadership of Senator Padilla, Assemblymember Bauer-Kahan, and Assemblymember Wicks, and the support of the entire California State Legislature in passing critically important Al companion chatbot safety legislation," Adam's parents, Matthew and Maria Raine, said in a statement supporting the bill. They added that "powerful AI companionship chatbots were unleashed on our kids with vastly inadequate protections." According to the bill text and legislative summaries, Adam's Law would require companion chatbot operators to conduct annual child safety risk assessments, submit to independent compliance audits, implement age-assurance measures, and identify risks posed to minors by chatbot design and operation.
Auditors would be required to file AI child safety reports with the California Attorney General. Supporters say the legislation would establish the country's most comprehensive regulatory framework for children's interactions with AI chatbots. Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan said in a statement that "Adam's Law sets a new national standard for what we owe our children online." Meanwhile, State Senator Steve Padilla argued California is stepping into a regulatory gap left by Washington.
"Adam's Law stands to become the national blueprint to build a safer online world for our kids," Padilla said. California's proposal comes amid a broader wave of state-level efforts to regulate AI chatbots, particularly those used by children. According to the Future of Privacy Forum (FPF), lawmakers have introduced nearly 100 chatbot-specific bills across 34 states in 2026, making AI companions and conversational bots one of the fastest-growing areas of technology regulation.
FPF's 2026 Chatbot Legislation Tracker identifies 15 states that have enacted chatbot-specific measures: Several states introduced chatbot-specific legislation that ultimately did not become law: In addition, several states that already have chatbot-specific laws on the books saw separate chatbot proposals stall or become inactive during the legislative process: While many state laws focus on a single issue such as AI disclosures, self-harm prevention, parental controls or age restrictions, supporters argue that Adam's Law combines multiple regulatory approaches into a single framework. The bill would require risk assessments, independent audits, age-assurance measures, reporting to the state attorney general and broader child-safety obligations for companion chatbot operators. That breadth is one reason proponents say the legislation could become a national model as states increasingly move beyond social media regulation and begin targeting AI companions directly.
If Newsom signs Adam's Law, California would move beyond many of those individual protections and establish a comprehensive framework encompassing audits, risk assessments, age-related safeguards, reporting requirements and liability provisions aimed specifically at protecting children from AI chatbot harms. Supporters argue that it could make the state the national leader in AI child safety regulation, as legislatures across the country race to address the growing role of AI in young people's lives. Contact Newsweek editor on this story: Edward Pearcey.
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