GUARD Act
Bad
Reported by committee●●○ Medium threatUpdated April 30, 2026
IntroducedPassed HousePassed SenateBecame Law
Would require age verification before anyone can use an AI chatbot or companion.
This bill is still moving, so there's still time to push back.Contact Congress →
SponsorJosh Hawley (R-MO)
IntroducedOctober 28, 2025
Latest actionReported by committee (April 30, 2026)
Cosponsors20 (14 D · 6 R)
CommitteeJudiciary Committee
What it does
The GUARD Act makes companies verify a user's age before letting them use an AI companion, and blocks minors from AI companion products altogether. Everyone proves their age to talk to an AI.
Why it matters
The age-check model is spreading from websites to AI chat. As people use chatbots to look things up, another everyday tool starts by asking who you are.
Our take
New technologies become the next reason to add an ID check. The GUARD Act is already on the Senate calendar, so this one is close, not hypothetical.
Cosponsors (20)
Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Katie Britt (R-AL), Mark Warner (D-VA), Christopher Murphy (D-CT), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ)
Committee
Judiciary Committee
Timeline
- October 28, 2025Introduced
- October 28, 2025Referred to committee
- April 30, 2026Reported by committee
Related bills
IssuesAge Verification
Our coverage: all age-verification stories · Status checked July 20, 2026