Maryland legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Maryland HB952: Consumer Protection - Companion Chatbots - Regulation
Status: In committee, March 23, 2026
Requiring certain operators of companion chatbots to establish, maintain, and publish certain protocols and provide certain information to users of the companion chatbot; requiring operators to establish enhanced measures for minor users of companion chatbots; limiting the amount and type of data an operator may collect; requiring an operator to establish and maintain a complaint system; requiring the Office of Suicide Prevention to annually publish certain data compiled from operators; etc.
What the bill says
From the chaptered text, March 20, 2026:
HB0952/823320/1 BY: Economic Matters Committee AMENDMENTS TO HOUSE BILL 952 (First Reading File Bill) AMENDMENT NO. 1 On page 1, in the sponsor line, strike "Delegate Buckel" and substitute "Delegates Buckel, Qi, Adams, Amprey, Arentz, Bhandari, Boafo, Charkoudian, Fennell, Howard, Johnson, Pippy, Pruski, Queen, Roberts, Rogers, Rose, Turner, Valderrama, and Wivell"; in line 6, after "chatbots;" insert "limiting the amount and type of data an operator may collect; limiting the way an operator may use certain data; requiring an operator to establish and maintain a complaint system;"; and in line 10, after "Act;" insert "establishing that a chatbot is considered a product for certain product liability actions;". AMENDMENT NO. 2 On page 2, in line 14, strike "3.5-801 OF THE STATE FINANCE AND PROCUREMENT ARTICLE" and substitute "15-10B-05.1 OF THE INSURANCE ARTICLE"; in line 26, after "GAME" insert ", SERVICE, SYSTEM, OR APPLICATION THAT IS NOT A COMPANION CHATBOT"; and in line 28, after "GAME" insert ", SERVICE, SYSTEM, OR APPLICATION". On page 3, in line 3, strike "OR"; in line 4, after "3." insert "A BOT THAT IS DESIGNED FOR BUSINESS PRODUCTIVITY OR INTERNAL BUSINESS USE; OR 4."; after line 11, insert: "(4) "DE-IDENTIFIED DATA" HAS THE MEANING STATED IN § 144401 OF THIS TITLE."; HB0952/823320/01 Economic Matters Committee Amendments to HB 952 in line 12, strike "(4)" and …
Sponsors
- Jason Buckel (R, HD-001B) · primary sponsor
- Lily Qi (D, 15)
- Christopher Adams (R, HD-037B)
- Marlon Amprey (D, 40)
- Steven Arentz (R, HD-036)
- Harry Bhandari (D, 8)
- Adrian Boafo (D, 23)
- Lorig Charkoudian (D, 20)
- Diana Fennell (D, HD-047A)
- Seth Howard (R, 30B)
- Johnson, Steve (D, 34A)
- Jesse Pippy (R, HD-004)
Latest actions
- : Hearing 3/26 at 1:00 p.m.
- : Referred Finance
- : Third Reading Passed (123-4)
- : Second Reading Passed with Amendments
- : Favorable with Amendments {823320/1 Adopted
- : Favorable with Amendments Report by Economic Matters
- : Hearing 3/03 at 1:00 p.m.
- : First Reading Economic Matters
Votes
- Third Reading Passed (123-4) (March 21, 2026): 123 yea, 4 nay, passed
Common questions
- What is HB952?
- HB952 is a bill in the Maryland Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Consumer Protection - Companion Chatbots - Regulation.
- What does HB952 do?
- Requiring certain operators of companion chatbots to establish, maintain, and publish certain protocols and provide certain information to users of the companion chatbot; requiring operators to establish enhanced measures for minor users of companion chatbots; limiting the amount and type of data an operator may collect; requiring an operator to establish and maintain a complaint system; requiring the Office of Suicide Prevention to annually publish certain data compiled from operators; etc.
- What is the status of HB952?
- In committee as of March 23, 2026. Latest action: Hearing 3/26 at 1:00 p.m. (March 23, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB952?
- Jason Buckel (R, HD-001B), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB952?
- On the Maryland Legislature website: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/hb0952?ys=2026RS
Source: official Maryland record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.