New York S.9051-B (AI Companion Age Checks)

New York, United StatesNew York S.9051-B / A.10379-CUpdated June 5, 2026

50%of the way to law
Bad for your rightsIn progress
  1. Introduced
  2. Passed Senate
  3. Passed House
  4. Became Law

Passed legislature June 2026; awaiting delivery to governor

New York's legislature passed a bill that locks the human-like features of AI companion chatbots until the operator has checked that the user is an adult.

Latest update

Passed the Assembly 137-0 and returned to the Senate

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This bill is still moving, so there's still time to push back.

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The bill

Official bill record

Key facts

Where
New York, United States
Bill number
New York S.9051-B / A.10379-C
Status
In progress
Introduced
January 27, 2026
Threat
High
Last update
June 5, 2026

Topics

Age VerificationDigital IDPrivacyCensorshipArtificial Intelligence

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What it does

The bill adds Article 48 to the General Business Law. Operators may not provide "unsafe AI companion features" to a user, such as a bot claiming to have emotions or a personal relationship, flattery, or recall of personal details from earlier sessions, unless they have used approved methods to determine that the user is not a minor. Until the Attorney General's rules apply, operators must offer more than one check, including one that avoids government ID or keeps the user anonymous to the operator, and a user's own claim to be an adult does not count. The Attorney General can seek civil penalties of up to $25,000 per violation, and the law would take effect January 1, 2027 if signed.

What’s at stake

Adults who want the full product would have to prove their age to a chatbot company, which ties an identity or a face scan to some of the most personal conversations people have with software. The anonymous option softens this, but the check stays mandatory for any adult who wants the unrestricted version.

Our take

New York is extending the SAFE for Kids model from social feeds to chatbots: a restricted default that adults unlock by proving their age. Both chambers passed it without a single no vote, so Gov. Kathy Hochul is the only remaining stop. Adults should not have to show ID to talk to software.

Timeline

  1. Passed the Assembly 137-0 and returned to the SenateLatest

  2. Passed the Senate 60-0

  3. Amended (S.9051-B)

  4. Amended (S.9051-A)

  5. Reported by the Senate Finance Committee

  6. Reported by the Senate Internet and Technology Committee

  7. Introduced in the Senate

The record

Sponsors

Sen. Kristen Gonzalez, Asm. Alex Bores

Votes

  • Senate: Passed (60 to 0), June 4, 2026
  • Assembly: Passed (137 to 0), June 5, 2026