California Regulate Use of Artificial Intelligence Chatbots by Minors Initiative (2026)
| California Regulate Use of Artificial Intelligence Chatbots by Minors Initiative | |
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| Topic Business regulations |
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| Status Pending official review |
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| Type Initiated state statute |
Origin |
The California Regulate Use of Artificial Intelligence Chatbots by Minors Initiative may appear on the ballot in California as an initiated state statute on November 3, 2026.
Measure design
- See also: Text of measure
The initiative would adopt regulations for AI companion chatbots, including:[1]
- requiring AI chatbot developers to restrict content when used by minors,
- prohibiting the sale of a minor's data without parental consent,
- requiring independent audits of chatbot technology for minor safety risks reported to the state attorney general, and
- prohibiting the promotion of isolation or romantic relationships with AI chatbots.
Text of measure
Full text
The full text of the initiative can be read here.
Path to the ballot
An initiated state statute is a citizen-initiated ballot measure that amends state statute. There are 21 states that allow citizens to initiate state statutes, including 14 that provide for direct initiatives and nine (9) that provide for indirect initiatives (two provide for both). An indirect initiated state statute goes to the legislature after a successful signature drive. The legislatures in these states have the option of approving the initiative itself, rather than the initiative appearing on the ballot.
In California, the number of signatures required for an initiated state statute is equal to 5% of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election. A simple majority vote is required for voter approval. The requirements to get initiated state statutes certified for the 2026 ballot:
- Signatures: 546,651 valid signatures are required.
- Deadline: The deadline for signature verification is June 25, 2026. However, the secretary of state suggested deadlines for turning in signatures of January 12, 2026, for initiatives needing a full check of signatures and April 17, 2026, for initiatives needing a random sample of signatures verified.
Details for the initiative
The following is the timeline of the initiative:[2]
- January 8, 2026: Common Sense Media and ChatGPT-maker OpenAI filed the initiative with the California Attorney General's Office.[1][3]
See also
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Cal Matters, "Full text," accessed January 12, 2025
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Initiative and Referendum Qualification Status," accessed December 3, 2025
- ↑ IJPR, "ChatGPT maker OpenAI and Common Sense Media had rival ballot initiatives designed to protect kids from chatbots. Now, they've merged their efforts.," January 1, 2026
