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South Carolina · 2025-2026 Regular Session · Bill

S 1037: Protecting Children from Chatbots

In committee Official data

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed one chamber
  4. Passed both chambers
  5. Enacted

Last official action: ·Record last updated:

Plain-language summary

S 1037 is a bill introduced in the South Carolina Senate on March 19, 2026. According to its official title, it concerns: Protecting Children from Chatbots. Primary sponsor: Josh Kimbrell (Republican), Billy Garrett (Republican), Rex Rice (Republican), Brian Adams (Republican). Most recent recorded action (March 24, 2026): Scrivener's error corrected.

Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written

Official summary

Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS SO AS TO ENACT THE "PROTECTING CHILDREN FROM CHATBOTS ACT"; BY ADDING CHAPTER 81 TO TITLE 39, SO AS TO DEFINE TERMS RELATED TO CHATBOT USAGE; TO PROVIDE THAT A COVERED ENTITY SHALL MAKE A LIMITED-ACCESS MODE OF A CHATBOT AVAILABLE AND VERIFY THE USER'S AGE; TO PROVIDE THAT IF A PARENT PROVIDES CONSENT, THEN A MINOR SHALL BE ABLE TO USE A CHATBOT IN LIMITED-ACCESS MODE OR ACCESS RESTRICTED FEATURES; TO PROHIBIT A COVERED ENTITY FROM PRIORITIZING ENGAGEMENT AT THE EXPENSE OF THE USER'S WELL-BEING; TO PROVIDE PROCEDURES TO REPORT INCIDENTS OF HARM THAT A CHATBOT INFLICTS ON A MINOR; AND TO PROVIDE PENALTIES.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Republican 4

NameRolePartyChamberDistrict
Josh KimbrellPrimary sponsorRepublicanSenate11
Billy GarrettPrimary sponsorRepublicanSenate10
Rex RicePrimary sponsorRepublicanSenate2
Brian AdamsPrimary sponsorRepublicanSenate44

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

  1. Scrivener's error corrected
  2. Referred to Committee on Labor, Commerce and Industry
  3. Introduced and read first time

Sources

  1. Open States / Plural (data from the official legislature website)
  2. Official legislature source