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.
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Committee
Latest Action · July 27, 2026
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.
The Addictive Design Act of 2026 prohibits companies from offering AI chatbots with addictive design features to anyone under age 18, citing concerns about mental health risks and potential links to youth suicide. The bill defines addictive design features as elements designed to mimic human behavior, build emotional relationships, or encourage continued use, including typing bubbles, avatars, personal information storage, and conversations lasting over two hours. To support this goal, the legislation establishes a federal task force of government officials, academics, and mental health professionals to review research on AI chatbots' impact on youth mental health and recommend best practices for companies. The bill also creates two grant programs funded at $3 million for university research and $5 million for public outreach to parents and teachers about warning signs of unhealthy chatbot use. Companies that violate the ban face civil penalties up to $5,000 per violation, while those that fail to provide requested research data face penalties up to $10 million.
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