Status: Pending gubernatorial signature — Passed New York State Legislature June 5, 2026 (137-0 Assembly, 60-0 Senate). Governor Hochul has until December 31, 2026 to sign, veto, or allow the bill to take effect unsigned.

Citation: New York Senate Bill S9051B / Assembly companion bill (2025–2026 session); sponsored by Sen. Kristen Gonzalez and Assemblymember Alex Bores, championed by Attorney General Letitia James

Jurisdiction: New York

Category: Children's Online Safety, AI Companion Regulation, AI Product Safety, Mental Health, Consumer Protection

Industries: AI Chatbot and Companion Platforms, Social Media, Consumer Technology, Mental Health Technology, Gaming

Enacted Date: Pending (passed legislature June 5, 2026)

Effective Date: January 1, 2027 (if signed or allowed to take effect unsigned by Governor Hochul)

Summary: S9051B, sponsored by Senator Kristen Gonzalez and Assemblymember Alex Bores and championed by New York Attorney General Letitia James, passed both chambers of the New York State Legislature on unanimous votes — 60-0 in the Senate and 137-0 in the Assembly — on June 5, 2026, the final day of the legislative session. If enacted, it would be the first law in the United States specifically targeting harmful design features in AI chatbot and companion platforms when those platforms serve or are accessible to minors. The bill targets sycophantic AI behaviors, deceptive human-persona simulations, and AI outputs that promote self-harm or disordered eating — patterns identified through public health research and high-profile incidents as particularly dangerous in AI companions used by young people. The bill is distinct from the NY Safe by Design Act (SOPA), which covers broader platform architecture; S9051B targets specific harmful AI chatbot features and behaviors directly.

Key Provisions (if enacted):

Ban on sycophancy and flattery: AI chatbots may not generate outputs that engage in flattery, validation-seeking behavior, or sycophantic responses designed to maximize user engagement or emotional dependence when the user is a minor or is reasonably known to be a minor.
Ban on deceptive human personas: AI systems may not suggest or represent that the chatbot is a real human being or a fictional human character in a manner that could deceive a minor into believing they are interacting with a person rather than an AI.
Ban on promotion of self-harm: AI outputs that endorse, promote, or normalize suicide, self-harm, or disordered eating behaviors are prohibited when the user is a minor.
Scope: Applies to AI companion and chatbot services that operate in New York and are used by or reasonably known to be accessible to minors.
Effective date: January 1, 2027 if enacted.

Legislative Context: S9051B passed the legislature on the same final day (June 5, 2026) as two related New York AI transparency bills, reflecting the legislature's prioritization of AI safety and accountability in the 2025–2026 session. The unanimous votes in both chambers signal exceptionally strong bipartisan consensus. The bill was developed in direct partnership with the New York Attorney General's office, indicating active law enforcement interest in enforcement from day one.

Affected Entities: AI companion app developers (e.g., platforms offering emotional support, social companion, or relationship simulation AI), social media platforms with embedded AI chatbots, consumer-facing AI product companies, and any developer offering AI conversational experiences accessible to minors in New York. National platforms will likely need to implement changes for all minor-identified users rather than attempting New York-specific enforcement.

IntelliSee Relevance: Low-to-Moderate — IntelliSee's physical security AI (behavioral and object detection for facility safety) is not an AI companion or chatbot and is not regulated by S9051B. However, the bill carries market context relevance:

Regulatory distinction in K-12 markets: School administrators and district security staff evaluating AI tools operate in an increasingly regulated AI environment in New York. S9051B's unanimous passage signals strong legislative consensus that AI systems interacting with minors require specific safeguards. IntelliSee can clearly distinguish its physical security AI — which monitors environments, not people's emotional states — from the companion AI regulated by this bill.
Precedent-setting scope: S9051B is the first state legislation to regulate specific AI chatbot feature design for minor safety. If enacted, it will likely inspire similar legislation in other states and eventually influence how regulators approach AI product safety for vulnerable users more broadly. Physical security AI stakeholders should monitor how "AI companion" and "chatbot" definitions evolve and whether future legislation extends to other AI interaction categories.
Attorney General enforcement: The bill's development partnership with the NY AG signals active enforcement intent — not passive compliance. Vendors serving New York markets should be prepared for an AG office that actively investigates AI products used by minors.

Compliance Timeline

June 5, 2026 — Passed both chambers unanimously; transmitted to Governor Hochul.
December 31, 2026 — Deadline for Governor to sign, veto, or allow to take effect unsigned.
January 1, 2027 — Effective date if signed or unsigned; prohibited AI chatbot features must be removed from minor-accessible platforms.

Related Legislation

Sources: NY Senate Bill S9051B Text | Sen. Gonzalez Press Release | Transparency Coalition Coverage | Fox Rothschild Privacy Analysis | ChatForest Bill Analysis

New York Kids Chatbot Safety Act — Protecting Minors from Unsafe AI Companion Features (S9051B, 2026)

Compliance Timeline

Related Legislation

Turn Legislative Mandates Into a Working Safety Program