Source: U.S. House Representative press release

IOWA — On July 17, 2026, Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks, M.D. introduced the Conversational AI Services Act, federal legislation designed to protect children and teenagers from psychological risks posed by generative AI chatbots and modeled directly on Iowa’s SF 2417, which Governor Kim Reynolds signed into law earlier this year with unanimous bipartisan support. Miller-Meeks framed the bill in medical and public-health terms, citing concerns about youth mental health and warning against repeating social-media era mistakes with artificial intelligence. Governor Reynolds is quoted endorsing the federal measure and urging Congress to pass the representative’s bill promptly.

The bill’s measures include requiring AI operators to provide parental supervision tools for minors’ screen time and account settings; prohibiting AI from simulating romantic relationships, claiming sentience, or acting as an unlicensed medical or mental-health professional; banning gamification features such as unpredictable reward points designed to increase screen time; requiring strong guardrails to prevent generation of sexually explicit material for minors; and mandating that AI services direct users expressing suicidal ideation to expert crisis hotlines. The legislation is described as pro-innovation and risk-based, with explicit exemptions for internal business tools, basic smart speakers, and B2B services to avoid unduly burdening American businesses.