Tech Bills of the Week: Regulating chatbot-child communication; AI in the VA; and more

Rep. Marianette Miller-Meeks introduced the Conversational AI Services Act on July 16 to protect underage users by mandating disclosures when interacting with AI, prohibiting content that simulates intimate relationships, and restricting mental health and self-harm information generated by chatbots. Rep. Gregory Murphy introduced a bill on Wednesday directing the Department of Veterans Affairs to partner with a federal research center for independent evaluations of AI systems used by the VA. Sen. Mark Warner introduced a comprehensive AI legislative package on Tuesday addressing infrastructure, competition, worker preparation, and national security.

Tech Bills of the Week: Regulating chatbot-child communication; AI in the VA; and more Bills this week focused on how minors — and seniors — engage with generative AI, gauging AI’s efficacy at the VA and addressing a myriad of policy issues. Regulating chatbot interactions with children Rep. Marianette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa, introduced the Conversational AI Services Act https://millermeeks.house.gov/media/press-releases/modeled-after-iowa-law-rep-miller-meeks-introduces-bill-shield-kids-predatory on July 16 to protect underage users by mandating disclosure that the user is interacting with an AI system, through either a “persistent” visible disclaimer or a timed disclosure occurring before or during the conversation. The bill also aims to ensure AI developers are not incentivizing underage users to spend more time with their chatbot services, and it prohibits the use of certain content that may lead a user to believe they are in an intimate relationship with a conversational AI. Forbidden content outlined in the bill includes adult-minor romantic relationship discourse, sexual and romantic interactions and emotional dependence. The bill also places controls on a chatbot generating mental health care and self-harm information. It was modeled after a law that was passed in Iowa earlier this year. “As a physician and a former Director of the Iowa Department of Public Health, I am deeply concerned about the toll the digital world is taking on our youth's mental health. We cannot allow the mistakes of the social media era to be repeated with Artificial Intelligence," said Miller-Meeks in a press release. "Parents are crying out for help. Thanks to the leadership of Governor Kim Reynolds, Iowa has proven that we can protect kids from deceptive AI without crushing technological innovation. I am proud to introduce this common-sense, conservative legislation to ensure American children can learn from AI safely, without being manipulated or exposed to explicit content.” Evaluating VA’s use of AI On Wednesday, Rep. Gregory Murphy, R-N.C., introduced a bill that asks the Department of Veterans Affairs to work with a federal research center to conduct independent evaluations of the AI systems in use by the VA. H.R.9862 https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/9862/text?s=1&r=1 would direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to orchestrate a partnership with any public research hub capable of auditing the VA’s operational AI systems for efficacy. The evaluations would focus on AI tools used within the agency’s Veterans Health Administration. Warner’s AI omnibus On Tuesday, Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., introduced a sweeping legislative package, called “ A Framework for America’s AI Future https://www.warner.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/FINAL-AI-Framework-Booklet.pdf ,” that addresses major aspects of AI policy. The top priorities Warner listed in his bill are: building AI infrastructure responsibly; promoting competition and safety; preparing workers for economic disruption and technological change; and strengthening America’s national security advantage. Each section includes different individual bills, such as the Data Center Tax Accountability and Disclosure Act, the AI AGENT Act, and the Secure AI Development Act, among others, to offer a comprehensive packet of AI policies impacting different sectors. “Artificial intelligence will reshape nearly every aspect of our economy and society. The only question is whether Congress is going to help shape that future or spend the next decade scrambling to catch up,” Warner said in a press release https://www.warner.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warner-rolls-out-comprehensive-ai-legislative-agenda-focused-on-responsible-innovation-workers-and-national-security/ . “America doesn’t have to choose between leading in AI and putting commonsense rules of the road in place. In fact, our leadership depends on getting this right. We need policies that encourage innovation while protecting consumers, strengthening competition, preparing our workforce, and ensuring AI advances America’s national security, not undermines it.” A unifying federal framework After introducing their discussion draft in June https://www.nextgov.com/artificial-intelligence/2026/06/lawmakers-propose-ai-framework-would-preempt-state-laws-3-years/413975/ , Reps. Jay Obernolte, R-Calif., and Lori Trahan, D-Mass., released the final version of their AI governance framework Thursday. The Frontier Risk Oversight, National Transparency, Independent Evaluation, and Reporting — or FRONTIER https://obernolte.house.gov/media/press-releases/obernolte-trahan-introduce-bipartisan-frontier-act-strengthen-oversight — Act was introduced, along with Reps. Scott Franklin, R-Fl., Scott Peters, D-Calif., Eric Houchin, R-Ind., and Suhas Subramanyan, D-Va. The bill focuses on preventing catastrophic risks in deployed frontier models through transparent reporting. AI developers would be subject to evaluations of their models based on assigned safety tiers. It would also appoint a new federal official, the under secretary of commerce for AI security, who would oversee AI rulemaking procedures, including evaluating incident reports and licenses. The FRONTIER Act would also prohibit states from establishing new “substantive obligations” or regulations on AI developers, without a fixed end date. “As AI systems grow more capable, Americans deserve confidence that the most powerful models are being developed responsibly,” Trahan said in a press release. “The bipartisan FRONTIER Act delivers commonsense transparency and independent oversight for the largest AI developers while giving them a single, clear national standard to build on. This is how we protect the public from catastrophic risks without slowing the innovation that keeps America competitive.” Applying antitrust to AI Sens. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., and Jim Banks, R-Ind., introduced a new bill on Thursday that seeks to apply antitrust laws to AI distillation attacks and risk-sharing efforts. The Collaboration on Adversarial Threats and Security Risks Act https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/5105/text?s=2&r=7&hl=artificial+intelligence would apply existing antitrust laws to the sharing of risks within frontier AI models. Antitrust laws govern businesses and specifically mitigate monopoly activity, fixed price schemes, and other unfair practices. The bill specifically aims to enable risk and threat sharing between industry and stakeholder groups without the hindrance of antitrust barriers that govern the exchange of information to one another “in good faith for the exclusive purpose of a covered artificial intelligence security purpose.” It also takes into account private sector companies coordinating or entering into agreements that focus on threat and safety testing during the predeployment of a covered AI model. “We cannot allow China, or any foreign adversary, to steal American technological advancements in AI, and then weaponize those advances to undermine our own national security,” said Schiff in the press release https://www.schiff.senate.gov/news/press-releases/news-sens-schiff-and-banks-reps-latta-and-whitesides-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-combat-ai-distillation-and-other-attacks-to-national-security/ . “The solution we are proposing would protect against AI distillation attacks and other security risks by allowing increased information-sharing among U.S. AI labs to counter the threat of foreign theft. As new AI innovations are developing faster than ever, it’s critical that Republicans and Democrats continue to work together to address potential misuse of AI development by hostile actors at home and abroad.” In the House on Thursday, Rep. Robert Latta, R-Ohio, introduced companion legislation https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/9914/text?s=2&r=4&hl=artificial+intelligence . Regulating chatbot interactions with seniors On Thursday, Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., introduced a bill that adds to the growing corpus of legislation aimed at regulating AI-powered chatbots, this time focused on how elderly individuals engage with the technology. The Senior Chatbot Protection Act https://www.kelly.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/kelly-introduces-bipartisan-senior-chatbot-protection-act/ would establish more consumer transparency and protection requirements for AI chatbots. It states that users must be told when they are interacting with an AI system in lieu of a human and adds additional protections on outputs regarding health care, estate planning, guardianship and other sensitive topics. “AI is a powerful tool that can help seniors live more independently. It can help them manage their finances, keep track of medications and doctor’s appointments, and navigate everyday tasks that become more challenging with age,” said Kelly in the press release. “But seniors need to know when they’re talking to a machine, what its limits are, and how their information is being used to make sure they aren’t being scammed or put at risk.” The bill also mandates that the National Institute of Standards and Technology develop voluntary guidance for chatbots engaging with older adults. Data center site restriction Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., introduced the No AI Data Centers on Federal Lands Act on Thursday to prohibit the construction of AI data centers and similar infrastructure on federal lands, including military bases. In the press release https://tlaib.house.gov/posts/rep-tlaib-introduces-a-bill-to-ban-ai-data-centers-on-federal-lands , Tlaib referenced concerns from constituents surrounding the environmental impact of data centers. “Everywhere I go in our district, our residents tell me loud and clear, data centers are not welcome in our communities. AI data centers bring noise, light, air, and water pollution, and can increase energy costs by as much as 267%,” said Tlaib. “Our residents are choking on smog and already paying too much for their utility bills, yet the Trump administration wants to place heavier cost burdens on the shoulders of hardworking Americans. I will continue to push back against harmful AI data centers alongside our residents to protect our public lands, health, and environment.” Securing apprenticeships from AI A new bill introduced on Thursday would empower the Department of Labor to “promote the necessity of artificial intelligence” to safeguard the job security of apprentice positions. Introduced by Rep. Mike Haridopolos, R-Fl., the bill was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce. Procurement reform bills pass the House Four bills reforming procurement processes advanced out of the House under suspension of the rules this week. The Value over Cost Act https://donalds.house.gov/uploadedfiles/value over cost act.pdf would allow the General Services Administration to evaluate contracts based on best value rather than the lowest overall cost. Introduced by Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., the bill passed the House of Representatives in a 421-1 vote on Tuesday and has been referred to the Senate. The Ensuring Federal Purchasing Efficiency Act https://fallon.house.gov/uploadedfiles/bills-119hr7283ih.pdf would “require the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council to adjust certain acquisition-related dollar thresholds for inflation every three years instead of every five years,” saving taxpayer dollars, according to a press release from Rep. Pat Fallon, R-Texas. The bill passed the House in a voice vote on Wednesday and has been referred to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. The Stop Secret Spending Act would require federal agencies to list other transaction agreements in awards that must be posted on usaspending.gov http://usaspending.gov . The House version of the bill, introduced by Reps. Barry Moore, R-Ala., and Jimmy Panetta, D-Calif., passed the House in a voice vote on Monday and has been referred to in the Senate. A Senate companion version of the bill led by Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, passed the upper chamber in June and has been sent to the House. The Federal Improvement in Technology Procurement Act would update technology purchasing rules, raise financial thresholds for small purchases and reform acquisition training. The bill introduced by Reps. Suhas Subramanyam, D-Va., and Eric Burlison, R-Mo., passed the House on Monday in a voice vote.