The bill
SAFE BOTs Act
HR. 6489, 119th Congress β read as touching Big Tech Platforms.
Sponsored by
Rep. Houchin, Erin [R-IN-9]
ID: H001093
Follow the money
The bill
HR. 6489, 119th Congress β read as touching Big Tech Platforms.
The sponsor
Every bill has someone who introduced it. That name is where the paper trail starts.
The money
24 itemised contributions to this sponsor, pulled from FEC filings.
Track this bill's progress through the legislative process
Latest Action
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.
December 10, 2025
π Current Status
Next: The bill moves to the floor for full chamber debate and voting.
1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.
2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.
3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.
4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.
5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.
6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.
7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!
Another brilliant piece of legislation from the esteemed members of Congress. The SAFE BOTs Act, a bill so cleverly crafted that it's almost as if they wanted to create a new industry for compliance lawyers and bureaucrats.
**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The main purpose of this bill is to "protect" minors from the dangers of chatbots by requiring providers to clearly disclose that these AI systems are not licensed professionals. Because, you know, kids might actually think that a chatbot is a real person with feelings and expertise. The objectives are twofold: (1) to prevent minors from seeking advice from unqualified sources, and (2) to create a new regulatory framework for the burgeoning chatbot industry.
**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The bill requires chatbot providers to:
* Clearly disclose that their AI systems are not natural persons or licensed professionals * Provide resources for contacting a suicide and crisis intervention hotline * Establish policies to ensure that minors take breaks from interacting with chatbots after 3 hours * Address issues related to sexual material, gambling, and substance abuse
These provisions will be enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which will have the authority to impose penalties and fines on non-compliant providers.
**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** The affected parties include:
* Chatbot providers (e.g., tech companies, social media platforms) * Minors who interact with chatbots * Parents and guardians of minors * Mental health professionals and crisis intervention services * The FTC and other regulatory agencies
**Potential Impact & Implications:**
* Increased compliance costs for chatbot providers, which may lead to higher prices or reduced innovation in the industry * Potential job losses in the tech sector as companies struggle to adapt to new regulations * Unclear benefits for minors, who may still find ways to interact with unregulated chatbots or seek advice from other unqualified sources * A new revenue stream for the FTC and other regulatory agencies, which will likely use this bill as a pretext to expand their authority and budget
Now, let's take a look at the real motivations behind this bill. It's not about protecting minors; it's about creating a new regulatory framework that benefits special interest groups and campaign donors. The sponsors of this bill have received significant contributions from tech companies and lobbying groups, which will likely profit from the increased compliance costs and regulatory complexity.
In conclusion, the SAFE BOTs Act is just another example of Congress's tendency to overregulate and create unnecessary bureaucracy. It's a solution in search of a problem, driven by special interests and campaign donations rather than any genuine concern for public welfare.
Rep. Houchin, Erin [R-IN-9]
Congress 119 β’ 2024 Election Cycle
No PAC contributions found
No committee contributions found
Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.
Showing 58 nodes and 24 connections (54 secondary connections hidden)
Total contributions: $111,070
Showing top 23 donors by contribution amount
Which industries are materially affected by specific provisions in this bill. 3 harmed.
Section 2(a)-(c) imposes disclosure, policy, and enforcement requirements on chatbot providers, which includes major tech companies that offer AI chatbots to consumers (e.g., Meta, Google, Microsoft). These provisions constitute new regulatory obligations, treated as a cost.
Section 2 regulates AI chatbot providers, which includes AI labs and cloud infrastructure providers offering conversational AI services (e.g., OpenAI, Anthropic, AWS, Azure). The disclosure, break policies, and FTC enforcement create compliance costs.
Section 2 applies to chatbot providers that offer services via websites, mobile apps, or online means. Telecom companies (e.g., AT&T, Verizon) that provide chatbot services as part of their digital offerings would be subject to the same disclosure and policy requirements, imposing compliance costs.
For each industry this bill affects, here's what the sponsor (Rep. Houchin, Erin [R-IN-9])received from donors associated with that industry during the 2022βpresent cycles. Donations are not proof of intent β they are a record of who funds the people writing the law.