MaineMaine AI companions would refer users to crisis help and disclose they are software
Operators of AI companions used personally in Maine would need to provide crisis referrals for detected self-harm statements and remind users they are speaking with software.
What it does
Operators of AI companions for personal use in Maine must use a protocol to detect and respond to users' statements about suicide or self-harm, including referrals to crisis services.
At the start of each interaction, operators must clearly tell users that an AI companion is not human. For a continuing interaction, they must repeat the notice at least every three hours.
The Attorney General may sue an operator believed to have violated or be about to violate these rules. A court may order the violation stopped and impose a penalty of up to $15,000 per day.
The Attorney General must place collected fees, fines, and penalties in a fund for suicide prevention, education, and awareness. The office must report yearly on the fund's money and spending.
Argument forUsers who share thoughts of self-harm could receive crisis contacts, while repeated notices remind them they are speaking with software.
Argument againstFrequent notices and crisis referrals could interrupt conversations, and operators could face penalties of up to $15,000 per day for violations.
More detail
Operators must use a protocol to detect and respond to users' statements about suicide or self-harm, including referring them to crisis services when those statements are detected. This applies to people and businesses that provide an AI companion for personal use in Maine. An AI companion simulates an ongoing human-like relationship; customer service, research, technical assistance, and internal business tools are excluded. The protocol must be in place before an operator provides an AI companion to a user.
Operators must clearly tell users they are communicating with software, not a person. This applies to operators of AI companions used personally in Maine, with exclusions for certain business customer-service, research, technical-assistance, and internal-use systems. The notice may be spoken or written. Give the notice at the beginning of an interaction, at least once per day during a single interaction, and at least every three hours during continuing interactions.
The Attorney General may sue operators for violations and ask a court to stop them, impose civil penalties, or grant other remedies. The action may be brought against a person or business operating or providing an AI companion. The Attorney General must believe, based on satisfactory evidence, that an operator has violated or is about to violate the chapter. A court may impose a civil penalty of up to $15,000 per day for a violation.
The Attorney General must administer a Suicide Prevention Fund and report each year on its money and spending. The Attorney General administers the fund, which supports suicide prevention, education, and awareness programs. Money collected as fees, fines, or penalties under the chapter goes into the fund. Other money may also be added. The fund may pay only for suicide prevention, education, awareness programs, and its administrative costs. The printed reporting provision starts January 15, 2028, with annual reports thereafter; the amendment summary instead says January 15, 2027.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Became Law
- Died
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 29Died in Possession of the Senate when the Legislature adjourned Sine Die and was PLACED IN THE LEGISLATIVE FILES. (DEAD)Died
- Apr 13On motion by Senator ROTUNDO of Androscoggin PLACED ON THE SPECIAL APPROPRIATIONS TABLE pending PASSAGE TO BE ENACTED - Emergency -2/3 Elected Required in concurrence.
- Apr 9Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
- Vote recorded ACCEPT REPORT 'A' OUGHT TO PASS AS AMENDED. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Enactment - Emer. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 9(Yeas 104 - Nays 43 - Absent 3 - Excused 0 - Vacant 1)
- Apr 9ROLL CALL NO. 803
- Apr 9PASSED TO BE ENACTED.Became Law
- Apr 9This being an emergency measure, a two-thirds vote of all the members elected to the House was necessary.
- Apr 9Under suspension of the Rules, READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED by Committee Amendment "A" (H-1002) in concurrence.Minor
- Apr 9Committee Amendment "A" (H-1002) READ and ADOPTED.Minor
- Apr 9READ ONCE.Minor
- Apr 9Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 932 Yeas 20 - Nays 14 - Excused 1 - Absent 0
- Apr 9ACCEPTANCE of The Report A Ought to Pass As Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (H-1002) Report PREVAILED.
- Apr 9Taken from the table by the President
- Apr 8Reported Out - OTP-AM/OTP-AM/OTP-AM
- Apr 8On motion by Senator STEWART of Aroostook Tabled until Later in Today's Session, pending Motion by Senator BAILEY of York to ACCEPT The Report A Ought to Pass As Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (H-1002) in concurrence.
- Apr 8Senator BAILEY of York moved to ACCEPT the Report A Ought to Pass as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (H-1002) Report in concurrence.
- Apr 8Reports READ
- Apr 8Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
- Apr 8The Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (H-1002).Minor
- Apr 8Under suspension of the rules, the Bill was given its SECOND READING without REFERENCE to the Committee on Bills in the Second Reading.
- Apr 8Committee Amendment "A" (H-1002) was READ and ADOPTED.Minor
- Apr 8The Bill was READ ONCE.Minor
- Apr 8On motion of Representative MATHIESON of Kittery, REPORT A Ought to Pass as Amended was ACCEPTED.
- Apr 8Reports READ.
- Mar 12Voted - Divided Report
- Mar 12Work Session Held
- Mar 4Work Session Held - TABLED
- Jan 13In concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
- Jan 13The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on HEALTH COVERAGE, INSURANCE AND FINANCIAL SERVICES.Minor
- Jan 13Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
- Jan 13On motion of Representative KUHN of Falmouth, the Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on HEALTH COVERAGE, INSURANCE AND FINANCIAL SERVICES.Minor
- Jan 13Committee on JUDICIARY suggested and ordered printed.Introduced
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