SB 3262
COMPANION AI PROTECTION ACT
TL;DR
Illinois SB 3262, the Companion AI Protection Act, would regulate AI chatbots designed to simulate emotional or social relationships with users (think Replika, Character.AI, and similar companion apps). The bill likely imposes safeguards around minors, mental health interactions, and disclosure that users are talking to AI rather than a human. It is currently stalled in committee under Rule 3-9(a).
How This Might Impact Your Business
Companies operating AI companion apps or chatbots that simulate friendship, romance, or emotional support would face new Illinois-specific compliance rules if this advances.
Consumer-facing AI platforms serving Illinois residents would likely need clear disclosures that users are interacting with AI, not a human.
Products accessible to minors face the highest exposure: expect age verification, content restrictions, and parental consent requirements.
Mental health and crisis response protocols (e.g., suicide/self-harm detection and referrals) would likely become mandatory for companion AI providers.
Adjacent industries (EdTech tutors, wellness apps, customer service bots with persona-based interactions) could be swept in depending on final definitions.
Enforcement in Illinois typically runs through the Attorney General and private right of action under consumer protection statutes, meaning potential class action exposure.
Current status is low-urgency: the bill was re-referred to Assignments under Rule 3-9(a), which in Illinois usually signals it is parked and unlikely to move in current form.
What Should You Do
Inventory any AI features in your product that simulate companionship, emotional support, or persistent relationships with users, especially those accessible to Illinois residents.
Ask your product and legal teams to document current AI disclosure language, age-gating, and crisis intervention protocols so you have a baseline if this or a similar bill advances.
If you serve minors, begin scoping parental consent and content moderation controls now; similar laws are advancing in California, New York, and at the FTC level.
Assign someone to monitor Illinois SB 3262 and comparable bills (CA SB 243, NY companion AI proposals) quarterly; movement out of Assignments would be the trigger to act.
Brief your comms and policy team on companion AI risk narratives (teen mental health, parasocial attachment) so you are not caught flat-footed if enforcement momentum builds.
Who It Affects
Status Timeline
committee
Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments
May 22, 2026