[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9948 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 9948
To direct the President to establish an interagency task force to
review, and provide recommendations on, the impact of addictive design
features on youth mental health, to direct the Secretary of Health and
Human Services to establish grant programs to support the activities of
the task force, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 27, 2026
Ms. Balint (for herself, Mr. Deluzio, Mr. Suozzi, and Mrs. Watson
Coleman) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on
Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by
the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the President to establish an interagency task force to
review, and provide recommendations on, the impact of addictive design
features on youth mental health, to direct the Secretary of Health and
Human Services to establish grant programs to support the activities of
the task force, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Addictive Design Act of 2026''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) According to Common Sense Media, in 2025, 12 percent of
teenagers said they used an AI chatbot for mental health
support.
(2) AI chatbots are often trained for a general purpose and
on a wide swath of data, therefore AI chatbots are not
specifically designed to support a youth dealing with a mental
health crisis.
(3) In fact, many AI chatbots are intentionally designed
with addictive design features that aim to develop an emotional
relationship with the user and keep users on the application.
(4) Multiple families have filed wrongful death lawsuits
alleging that conversations with an AI chatbot played a role in
their child's suicide.
(5) According to Public Citizen, in 2025 and 2026, 11
States enacted laws seeking to address the effects of AI
chatbots on youth mental health and well-being.
(6) The evidence presented to Congress indicates that AI
chatbots pose a considerable risk to the mental health and
emotional well-being of youth.
(7) Commercial freedoms of speech embodied in the First
Amendment and legitimate public safety interests must be
balanced in a way that mitigates harm while protecting
legitimate speech.
(8) Restricting access by youth to addictive design
features is the only effective means of addressing, with
respect to youth, the mental well-being and public safety risks
stemming from AI chatbots.
(9) Protecting youth from the mental health and public
safety risks associated with addictive design features in AI
chatbots is a compelling government interest.
SEC. 3. INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE ON IMPACT OF AI CHATBOTS ON YOUTH MENTAL
HEALTH.
(a) In General.--Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment
of this Act, the President shall establish an interagency task force,
to be known as the ``Task Force Addressing the Impact of Addictive
Design Features on Youth Mental Health'' (in this section referred to
as the ``Task Force''), to review research and make recommendations on
the impact of the use of AI chatbots on youth mental health for the
purpose of reducing the impact and use of addictive design features.
(b) Membership.--
(1) In general.--The Task Force shall be composed of--
(A) the Secretary of Health and Human Services (or
a delegate of the Secretary);
(B) the Director of the National Institute of
Standards and Technology (or a delegate of the
Director);
(C) the Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission
(or a delegate of the Chairman);
(D) the Assistant Secretary for Health;
(E) the Director of the Center for Mental Health
Services in the Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Services Administration;
(F) the Chief Technology Officer of the Office of
Technology in the Federal Trade Commission;
(G) 1 academic researcher with experience
researching the impacts of AI chatbots on youth mental
health;
(H) 1 academic researcher with experience
researching the design of AI chatbots;
(I) 2 psychologists or clinical social workers;
(J) 1 psychiatrist;
(K) 1 mental health professional; and
(L) the head of any such other Executive agency (as
defined in section 105 of title 5, United States Code),
or a representative of an entity, as determined
appropriate by the President.
(2) Commissioner.--The Task Force shall be headed by a
commissioner, who shall be elected through voice vote by the
members of the Task Force.
(3) Member requirements.--A member of the Task Force--
(A) with respect to a member that is an academic
researcher, shall be employed by an institution of
higher education;
(B) with respect to a member that is a
psychologist, clinical social worker, or psychiatrist,
shall--
(i) be licensed in a State; and
(ii) have at least 5 years of clinical
experience--
(I) in child and adolescent
development; and
(II) working with youth;
(C) with respect to a member that is a mental
health professional, shall--
(i) be licensed in a State; and
(ii) specialize in treating addiction; and
(D) with respect to a member listed in
subparagraphs (G) through (K) of paragraph (1), may not
be a political appointee.
(4) Terms.--Each member shall serve for the duration of the
Task Force.
(5) Vacancy.--In the case of a vacancy on the Task Force,
such vacancy shall be filled not later than 30 days after
arising and in the manner in which the original appointment was
made.
(6) Meetings.--The Task Force shall meet annually at the
call of the chair.
(c) Duties.--The Task Force shall--
(1) review any research, including research under section
4(a), that is conducted--
(A) prior to the date on which the Task Force
begins making recommendations under paragraph (2); and
(B) on the impact of the use of AI chatbots on
youth mental health; and
(2) based on the findings of the review carried out under
paragraph (1), make recommendations with respect to--
(A) developing and implementing a method to
minimize any mental health risk, including unhealthy
emotional attachment, associated with the use of an AI
chatbot by youth;
(B) developing and implementing a method for
covered entities to identify any warning sign of a
mental health risk, including unhealthy emotional
attachment and addiction to use of an AI chatbot, in
youth who use an AI chatbot;
(C) identifying best practices for covered entities
to provide information on mental health services
provided by a licensed medical health professional,
including a psychologist, pyschiastrst, therapist,
social worker, counselor, or clinician, to such youth
who exhibit such warning signs;
(D) identifying any mental health risk associated
with the use of an AI chatbot, specifically an AI
chatbot that includes an addictive design feature, by
youth; and
(E) identifying best practices for a covered entity
to identify and respond to any mental health outcome
related to such use.
(d) Publication of Certain Recommendations.--For purposes of
informing covered entities, the Task Force shall make available to the
public on the websites of the Department of Health and Human Services
and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration the
recommendations made under subsection (c)(2).
(e) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date on which all
research projects conducted under section 4(a) are complete, the
Commissioner of the Task Force shall submit to each appropriate
congressional committee a report on the activities of the Task Force
carried out under this section.
(f) Sunset Clause.--The Task Force shall terminate 60 days after
the Task Force submits the report under subsection (e).
SEC. 4. RESEARCH AND OUTREACH GRANTS.
(a) Research Grant Program.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services
(in this section referred to as the Secretary) shall make
grants to institutions of higher education to conduct research
projects on the impact of the use of AI chatbots on youth
mental health, including to inform the recommendations
described in section 3(c)(2).
(2) Condition of receiving grant.--As a condition of
receiving a grant under this subsection, an institution of
higher education shall demonstrate an ability to safely store
any data received when conducting research.
(3) Request for data and information.--An institution of
higher education that receives any funds through a grant under
this subsection may request from a covered entity any data and
information that is necessary and relevant to the research to
be conducted using such funds.
(b) Outreach Grant Program.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall make grants to
eligible entities to provide outreach to parents, legal
guardians, and covered teachers in the form of training or any
such other activity determined appropriate by the Secretary.
(2) Content of outreach.--An eligible entity that receives
a grant under this subsection shall include in any outreach--
(A) a method for identifying, and responding to,
any warning sign of a mental health risk, including
unhealthy emotional attachment and addiction to use of
an AI chatbot, in youth who use an AI chatbot;
(B) any mental health risk associated with the use
of an AI chatbot, specifically an AI chatbot that
includes an addictive design feature, by youth; and
(C) a method for discussing any such warning sign
with youth.
(3) Eligible entity defined.--The term ``eligible entity''
means an entity that is--
(A) an organization described in section 501(c)(3)
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from
tax under section 501(a) of such Code; or
(B) a community-based organization with experience
working with parents and covered teachers.
(c) Reports.--The Secretary shall submit to each appropriate
congressional committee a report containing--
(1) information on any institution of higher education or
eligible entity that receives a grant under subsection (a) or
(b), respectively; and
(2) the amount of each such grant.
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated for fiscal years 2027 through 2032--
(1) $3,000,000 to carry out subsection (a); and
(2) $5,000,000 to carry out subsection (b).
SEC. 5. REQUIRED PROVISION OF ACCESS TO DATA.
(a) Access to Data.--For purposes of an institute of higher
education conducting a research project under section 4(a), a covered
entity shall provide access to any data and information requested by
such institution under such section.
(b) Privacy.--In providing access to data and information under
subsection (a), a covered entity shall remove any identifiable
information from such data and information.
(c) Civil Penalty.--
(1) In general.--The Attorney General shall assess a civil
penalty against a covered entity in an amount of not more than
$10,000,000 for each violation of subsection (a).
(2) Activity constituting violation.--For purposes of
paragraph (1), failure to comply under subsection (a) with any
request with respect to a single research project shall be
considered as one violation.
(d) Injunctive Relief.--The Attorney General may bring an action in
an appropriate United States district court against a covered entity
that violates subsection (a) for such relief as may be appropriate,
including injunctive relief.
SEC. 6. PROHIBITION ON ADDICTIVE DESIGN FEATURES.
(a) In General.--A covered entity may not make available to youth
an AI chatbot with addictive design features.
(b) Requirements for Data Collected.--If a covered entity, for
purposes of ensuring compliance with paragraph (1), deploys appropriate
age verification technology to determine whether a user of an AI
chatbot made available by such entity is a youth, such entity shall--
(1) limit any data collected through such deployment to
only that data that is strictly necessary to determine the age
of such user; and
(2) delete any such data not later than 24 hours after
reviewing such data.
(c) Civil Penalty.--
(1) In general.--The Attorney General shall assess a civil
penalty against a covered entity in an amount of $5,000 for
each violation of subsection (a) or (b).
(2) Activity constituting violation.--For purposes of
paragraph (1), failure to comply under subsection (a) or (b)
with respect to the same event or transaction, or a related
series of events or transactions, shall be considered as one
violation.
(d) Injunctive Relief.--The Attorney General may bring an action in
an appropriate United States district court against a covered entity
that violates subsection (a) or (b) for such relief as may be
appropriate, including injunctive relief.
SEC. 7. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Addictive design features.--The term ``addictive design
feature'' means an element of an AI chatbot that is designed
for the purpose of mimicking human behavior, building or
engaging in an emotional relationship with the user, or
ensuring the user continues to use the AI chatbot, including--
(A) showing typing bubbles;
(B) providing avatars;
(C) storing and using personal information from
previous conversations;
(D) requiring additional engagement or pay to
continue a conversation;
(E) maintaining a conversation for longer than 2
hours; or
(F) impersonating a real person, living or dead.
(2) AI chatbot.--The term ``AI chatbot'' means a generative
artificial intelligence system that engages in an interactive
conversation with a user that--
(A) is carried out through a text, audio, or visual
medium; and
(B) is not predetermined or scripted.
(3) Appropriate congressional committee.--The term
``appropriate congressional committee'' means--
(A) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the
House of Representatives;
(B) the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of
Representatives;
(C) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate; or
(D) the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate.
(4) Covered teacher.--The term ``covered teacher'' means a
teacher employed by an elementary, middle, or high school.
(5) Covered entity.--The term ``covered entity'' means a
person who owns, operates, or otherwise makes available an AI
chatbot to youth.
(6) Institution of higher education.--The term
``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given such
term in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1002).
(7) State.--The term ``State'' means a State, the District
of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American
Samoa, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, the Virgin
Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or
any other territory of the United States.
(8) Youth.--The term ``youth'' means an individual who--
(A) is under the age of 18; and
(B) resides in the United States.
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