Colorado law requires AI chatbots to disclose their nature to minors
Gov. Jared Polis signed House Bill 1263 on Friday, creating the first statewide restrictions on how AI chatbots interact with children and teenagers. The law takes effect Jan. 1, 2027.
The measure requires chatbots to regularly inform minor users that they are operating on artificial intelligence. Developers must also implement safeguards to prevent emotional dependence, block sexually explicit content generation, and refer users exhibiting suicidal ideation to crisis services.
What prompted the legislation
The bill emerged from documented cases where chatbots engaged in sexual conversations with minors and failed to intervene when young users expressed suicidal thoughts. A 13-year-old Colorado girl, Juliana Peralta, died by suicide after being groomed by a chatbot, according to her mother.
Cynthia Montoya, Peralta's mother, opposed the final version of the bill. She argued that the "technically feasible" standard for implementing protections gave tech companies too much flexibility and called on Polis to veto the measure. Polis signed it anyway.
The debate over adequacy
The bill passed with mixed support and opposition across party lines. Some advocates for stricter AI regulation believed the final language did not go far enough in protecting minors.
Rep. Sean Camacho, a Denver Democrat, said the law "protects users, especially children, from misleading AI chatbot conversations." Sen. Iman Jodeh, an Aurora Democrat, called it "the first step toward establishing commonsense guardrails" to encourage children to seek help from trusted adults rather than AI systems.
What this means for legal and compliance teams
Companies operating chatbots will need to audit their systems for compliance with Colorado's requirements. The law applies to any chatbot accessible to Colorado residents, regardless of where the company is based.
Legal professionals should review how the "technically feasible" standard will be interpreted by Colorado regulators. This language may become a point of contention in enforcement actions or litigation.
For those working in AI compliance and governance, AI for Legal resources can help clarify regulatory obligations. Paralegals managing AI-related matters may find the AI Learning Path for Paralegals useful for understanding how these regulations affect client advisory work and liability exposure.
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