AI commission weighs laws to keep kids, teens safe - WSFA

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) - Alabama is considering what other states have done to protect children and teens from potential dangers of artificial intelligence.

The goal is to protect children from explicit content and prevent AI from being an unhealthy part of their lives.

When technology is as recent and ever-changing as artificial intelligence, Alabama lawmakers on the Commission of AI and Children’s Safety have said it is difficult to write legislation that addresses both current and future concerns.

“We have not really discussed really any prior bill or focused on any bill it’s just been concepts and that’s probably what our report will do,” said Rep. Ben Robbins (R-Sylacauga) during Wednesday’s meeting.

“What is the most important red line? If you had to draw one line and say this is the ultimate red line, because you might not get everything passed, but one that you would say is the most imperative, the most important red line that must be drawn?” asked Rep. Robbins.

Experts in Wednesday’s hearing suggested that the legislature tackle addictive and harmful algorithms that are presented to children and teens.

Alabama’s 2026 artificial intelligence bills

Alabama lawmakers considered a handful of AI-related bills in the 2026 session.

House Bill 324 was introduced in the legislature for 2026 and has a bipartisan group of lawmakers as cosponsors: Rep. Parker Moore (R-Decatur), Rep. Russell Bedsole (R-Alabaster), Rep. Susan DuBose (R-Hoover), Rep. Ben Robbins (R-Sylacauga), Rep. Jeremy Gray (D-Opelika), Rep. Mike Shaw (R-Hoover), Rep. Prince Chestnut (D-Selma) and Rep. Kenyatte Hassell (D-Montgomery).

The bill looked to tackle artificial intelligence chatbots, including verifying the age of each user and ensuring AI chatbots with human-like features are not available to minors.

However, after the bill was filed, it was assigned to the House Judiciary Committee, where the progress ended.

Two artificial intelligence-related bills became law:

1) House Bill 329: included artificial intelligence in the definition of a computer science course, which Alabama students are required to complete for graduation

2) Senate Bill 63: regulated the use of artificial intelligence by health benefit plan providers in making determinations of coverage under health benefit plans

What other states have done

The National Conference of State Legislatures maintains a database to view legislation on AI policy across the country.

In Georgia, lawmakers passed a bill saying AI companies should use age estimation or other identity-based verification to determine if the person talking to an AI chatbot is a child.

States like Idaho, Connecticut and Hawaii have also passed legislation with features including repeated reminders to minors that they are not talking to another human being.

In March, the White House put out a National Policy Framework for AI for Congress to follow.

However, state lawmakers have said that with how rapidly AI technology is changing, they feel the states should be taking proactive steps to respond more quickly to emerging threats to children’s safety.

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