Hawaii lawmakers have decided it is time to lay down some ground rules for chatbots, giving final approval on Wednesday, May 6, 2026 to Senate Bill 3001 CD1, the Artificial Intelligence Disclosure and Safety Act, and sending it to the governor for consideration. The measure combines a plain-language disclosure rule with new guardrails for minors and people seeking crisis help, requiring platforms to bake safety protocols and parental controls into conversational AI services. Backers are touting it as a model for responsible AI, while industry groups warn the language is broad and could prove tough to carry out in practice.
What the Law Would Require
According to LegiScan, operators of “conversational artificial intelligence services” would need to provide a clear, easy-to-spot notice whenever a reasonable person might assume they are chatting with a human being. Those operators must also adopt protocols for handling prompts about suicidal ideation, steering users to crisis hotlines or text lines.
The bill bars AI systems from presenting themselves as licensed mental health professionals and requires tools that allow parents to manage minors’ accounts and screen time. It also prohibits manipulative engagement tactics that specifically target children.
Beginning Jan. 1, 2028, operators would have to file annual reports with the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs detailing their crisis referrals and related protocols. Violations are classified as unfair or deceptive acts that can be enforced by the attorney general and the Office of Consumer Protection.
Protections for Kids and Crisis Response
Supporters say the bill plugs holes left by other states’ efforts. “People deserve to know when they are interacting with artificial intelligence, particularly our keiki,” Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole said in a statement, per Maui Now. Rep. Trish La Chica, vice chair of the House Committee on Education, said the measure tightens exemptions that previously let widely used children’s tools slip outside oversight.
Enforcement, Penalties and Limits
Under the bill, the attorney general and the director of the Office of Consumer Protection could seek injunctions and damages, including a civil penalty of $1,000 per violation, along with a cap on total damages per operator. The measure blocks private lawsuits and limits how far developer liability can extend for third-party deployments, according to LegiScan.
Industry Reaction and Next Steps
Industry groups have raised constitutional and compliance concerns. The Computer & Communications Industry Association warned that the bill’s broad definitions could sweep in ordinary chat features and trigger privacy and First Amendment problems, as outlined in a CCIA press release.
Maui Now reports that SB3001 CD1 now heads to the governor. Under state rules, the governor typically has ten days to sign or veto a bill, and if a veto lands while the Legislature is still in session, lawmakers could attempt a two-thirds override, according to the Legislative Reference Bureau’s Legislative Reference Bureau.
If the bill is signed, Hawaii would join a growing list of states pushing disclosure and child-safety requirements for chatbots. Companies behind conversational AI would need to adjust notices, parental tools and crisis protocols. Regulators and industry are likely to battle over how the law is implemented, with legal challenges very much on the horizon.
