HB26-1263 addresses the demonstrated harm of conversational AI interactions

DENVER, CO – Following this afternoon’s vote in favor of HB26-1263, Healthier Colorado released the following statement:

“Healthier Colorado’s mission is to ensure every Coloradan has the opportunity to be healthy and thrive. This bill advances that mission by establishing safeguards designed to address the deliberate and inadvertent design elements of AI chatbots that can harm and worsen users’ mental health, with sometimes devastating consequences. That protection is the product of hundreds of hours of research, collaboration, and refinement. That work has continued, thanks to Representatives Camacho and Mabrey, to ensure we pass a common-sense bill that is both technically feasible and effective in protecting AI chatbot users of all ages from demonstrated harm. We look forward to working with the Senate sponsors and urge swift passage so that we can send this bill to the Governor’s desk and protect Coloradans, especially youth, as this technology continues to evolve at a dizzying speed.” – Alexis Alltop, Healthier Colorado Policy Manager