SPRINGFIELD – According to a 2025 report from Common Sense Media, nearly one in three teens report interacting with AI companions, raising concerns about the potential for manipulation, overreliance and unsafe interactions. As AI tools become more prevalent in daily life, State Senator Mary Edly-Allen is working to ensure guardrails are in place to keep Illinois residents, especially young people safe.

“Artificial intelligence is evolving faster than our laws, and we have a responsibility to ensure innovation doesn’t come at the expense of safety,” said Edly-Allen (D-Grayslake). “These measures are about putting thoughtful protections in place so families can trust the technology their children are using.”

To address the growing presence of AI companions, Senate Bill 3262, the Companion AI Protection Act, would establish clear safeguards for AI systems designed to interact with users. The legislation restricts manipulative or addictive design features, particularly for minors, and requires companies to clearly disclose when a user is interacting with artificial intelligence. It also would mandate crisis response protocols and regular independent audits to ensure compliance and accountability.

“This legislative package represents a vital 'safety stack' for the AI era. By addressing everything from the emotional manipulation of companion bots in SB 3262 to the verification of digital content in SB 3263 and the prevention of catastrophic risks in SB 3312, Illinois is creating a roadmap for responsible innovation,” said Steve Wimmer, Senior Policy Advisor for the Transparency Coalition. “We are moving past the era of 'trust us' and into an era of 'show us.' These bills ensure that whether you are a teen talking to a chatbot or a citizen viewing a video online, you have the right to know what is real, what is synthetic, and that the systems behind them have been tested for safety.”

Building on these consumer protections, Edly-Allen is also working to bring greater transparency to the broader digital ecosystem through Senate Bill 3263, the AI Provenance Data Act. The measure would create a system in which digital content, including AI-generated media, contains machine-readable labels identifying its origin.

“With AI-generated content becoming increasingly sophisticated, it’s getting harder to distinguish what’s real and what’s not,” said Edly-Allen. “Establishing clear provenance standards helps combat misinformation and gives people the tools they need to make informed decisions online.”

In addition to addressing day-to-day interactions with AI, Edly-Allen’s legislative package takes a forward-looking approach to managing emerging risks. Senate Bill 3312, the AI Safety Measures Act, focuses on preventing catastrophic harms by requiring large-scale AI developers to conduct risk assessments, publish transparency reports and report serious safety incidents.

Together, the measures reflect a comprehensive approach to AI governance, balancing innovation with accountability, and ensuring Illinois remains a leader in protecting residents in an increasingly digital world.

The bills were heard in a subject matter hearing in the Senate Social Media and AI Subcommittee and await further consideration.