Short title

This Act may be cited as the

Addictive Design Act of 2026

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.

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).

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).

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.

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.

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.