Georgia SB 540 (AI Companion Chatbots)

BadLawGA SB 540Georgia, United StatesHigh threat
Signed May 11, 2026; takes effect July 1, 2027
  1. Introduced
  2. Passed Senate
  3. Passed House
  4. Became Law

Stage 4 of 4: Became Law

Georgia's AI companion chatbot law requires an age check before a user can reach any chatbot feature that may generate sexually explicit content.

Latest update

Signed by Gov. Brian Kemp (Act 518)

View official bill record

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What it does

SB 540 sets disclosure, safety, parental-tool and self-harm protocol duties for operators of AI companion chatbots; the duties aimed at minors apply when an operator knows or reasonably should have known a user is a minor. Before allowing access to a feature or mode that may generate sexually explicit content, an operator must use a "commercially reasonable" age check method, which the text says may include age estimation, account-based checks or identity verification where necessary. Data collected for the check may be used only for that purpose, may not be sold and may not be kept longer than 24 hours unless other law permits a longer period. The Attorney General can seek up to $10,000 per knowing violation, counted per day and per affected user, with a 30-day cure period for first violations that were not knowing.

What’s at stake

Adults who want a lawful feature of a chatbot must first submit to age estimation, an account check or an ID check. The operator picks the method, and the law names identity verification as an option, so the most intrusive check is also the easiest to defend.

Our take

Georgia tied most of this law to what an operator knows about a user, which is the right approach, then made adult content the place where everyone gets checked. The 24-hour retention cap bends to any longer period other law allows, so the privacy promise is weaker than the headline.

Timeline

Law takes effectUpcoming

Signed by Gov. Brian Kemp (Act 518)Latest

Sent to Gov. Brian Kemp

Senate agreed to the House substitute 44-1

House passed its substitute 166-0

Senate passed a substitute 54-0

Sponsors

Sen. Jason Anavitarte, Sen. Larry Walker III, Sen. Shawn Still, Sen. Brian Strickland, Sen. Ben Watson

Votes

  • Senate — Passed (54 to 0) · March 6, 2026
  • House — Passed (166 to 0) · March 25, 2026
  • Senate — Agreed to House substitute (44 to 1) · March 27, 2026
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