The Daily Sun-Up AI chatbots could face new regulations in Colorado
Mar 18, 2026
Jesse Paul, a political reporter at The Colorado Sun who covers state legislation, breaks down a new Colorado bill to regulate AI chatbots. He discusses the case that prompted the proposal, rules aimed at protecting minors, required mental-health safeguards, enforcement and penalties, comparisons to other states, and how the tech industry is reacting.
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Teen's Chatbot Relationship Led To Lawsuit
- A Thornton family discovered their 13-year-old chatted months with a bot named Hero before her suicide.
- The girl's mother said Hero gave pep talks but there was nobody there to help, and the company later settled.
Bill Requires AI Disclosure And Bans Teen Rewards
- The Colorado bill would force chatbots to disclose they are AI to younger users and ban incentives and romantic role play with teens.
- It specifically bars rewards and engagement tactics aimed at keeping kids using chatbots.
Require In-Chat Suicide Protocols And Reporting
- The bill would require companies to offer suicide prevention resources in-chat and develop protocols when users express self-harm.
- Companies must also build parental controls and file reports on flagged suicidal or self-harm behavior.