California Adam's Law — Companion Chatbot Minor Protections (SB 1119)
California Adam's Law — Companion Chatbot Minor Protections (SB 1119) in California: pending, effective TBD (awaiting Governor). Applies to Operators of companion chatbots accessible to minors in California. Age range: Under 18. Amends SB 243 with additional protections for minor users
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | California |
|---|---|
| Category | AI Chatbot Safety |
| Status | pending |
| Effective date | TBD (awaiting Governor) |
| Age range | Under 18 |
| Applies to | Operators of companion chatbots accessible to minors in California |
Key requirements
- Amends SB 243 with additional protections for minor users
- Requires operators to undergo independent child-safety audits of compliance
- Strengthens crisis-response and disclosure obligations
Notes
Passed the Legislature August 31, 2026. Governor Newsom must act by September 30, 2026. Companion bill SB 867 would prohibit selling toys that include a companion chatbot.
Frequently asked
What does California Adam's Law — Companion Chatbot Minor Protections (SB 1119) require?
Amends SB 243 with additional protections for minor users Requires operators to undergo independent child-safety audits of compliance Strengthens crisis-response and disclosure obligations
Who must comply with California Adam's Law — Companion Chatbot Minor Protections (SB 1119) in California?
Operators of companion chatbots accessible to minors in California
When does California Adam's Law — Companion Chatbot Minor Protections (SB 1119) take effect and what is its status?
Effective TBD (awaiting Governor). Current status: pending. Passed the Legislature August 31, 2026. Governor Newsom must act by September 30, 2026. Companion bill SB 867 would prohibit selling toys that include a companion chatbot.
Related laws
| Law | Jurisdiction | Category | Status | Effective |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) | California | Consumer Privacy | active | September 2025 |
| California Mental Health Warnings (AB 56) | California | Consumer Privacy | pending | January 1, 2027 |
| Protecting Our Kids from Social Media Addiction Act (SB 976) | California | Social Media | challenged | January 1, 2025 (partial); age verification January 1, 2027 |
| California Addictive Features Ban for Under-16s (AB 1709) | California | Social Media | pending | TBD (awaiting Governor) |
| California Age-Appropriate Design Code Act (AB 2273) | California | Age-Appropriate Design Code | challenged | Partially active (April 2026) |
| California Digital Age Assurance Act (AB 1043) | California | App Store Accountability | pending | January 1, 2027 |
| California Companion AI Chatbot Safety Act (SB 243) | California | AI Chatbot Safety | active | January 1, 2026 |
| Colorado AI Companion Chatbot Safety Act (HB 26-1263) | Colorado | AI Chatbot Safety | pending | January 1, 2027 |
Put it into practice
- Generate the policy: NIST AI RMF policy generator (generatepolicy.com)
- Buy the policy pack: NIST AI RMF Implementation Policy (cyberpolicy.shop)
- Build it yourself: Pillar 06 Companion — The 2026 AI Risk Register (ciso.diy)