HB 952

Did not advance

Consumer Protection - Companion Chatbots - Regulation

Sponsor: Jason C. Buckel (District 1B)Committee: Economic MattersSubject: Commercial Law - Consumer ProtectionStatus: Hearing 3/26 at 1:00 p.m. (as of Sep 4, 2026)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Requiring certain operators of companion chatbots to establish, maintain, and publish certain protocols and provide certain information to users of the companion chatbot; requiring operators to establish enhanced measures for minor users of companion chatbots; limiting the amount and type of data an operator may collect; requiring an operator to establish and maintain a complaint system; requiring the Office of Suicide Prevention to annually publish certain data compiled from operators; etc.

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Analysis reads the bill text, the fiscal note, and the witness list. It is generated by Claude and reviewed by nobody, so check the source documents before you rely on it.

Testimony (34)

MGA witness list

FAV 7FavorableFWA 4Favorable with amendmentsUNF 18UnfavorableINFO 5Information only

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Quilaqueo, Sofia	Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network	Written (PDF)
FAV	Delegate Buckel, Delegate Buckellegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Delegate Buckel, Delegate Buckellegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Lang, Alan	Individual	Position only
FAV	Mauer, William	Individual	Position only
FAV	Tibbals, Trudy	Individual	Position only
FAV	Tibbals, Trudy	Individual	Position only
UNF	Stokes, Meganlobbyist	CCIA	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	January, Briannalobbyist	Chamber of Progress	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	January, Briannalobbyist	Chamber of Progress	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Sepe, Kyle	Computer & Communications Industry Association	Oral
UNF	Williams, Kara	Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC)	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Segel, Aaron	Entertainment Software Association	Oral
UNF	Hinkle, Haley	Fairplay	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Trail, Nathan	Information Technology Industry Council	Oral
UNF	Favazza, Johnlobbyist	Manis Canning & Associates	Oral
UNF	Wiggins, Grasonlobbyist	Maryland Chamber of Commerce	Oral
UNF	Lynch, Meghan	Maryland Department of Health	Written (PDF)
UNF	Dickerson, Taylor	Maryland Psychological Association	Written (PDF)
UNF	locklair, caileylobbyist	Maryland Retailers Association	Oral
UNF	Schulz, Kelly	Maryland Tech Council	Oral
UNF	Colbert, Renata	Motion Picture Association	Written (PDF)
UNF	Vetter, Drew	Individual	Written (PDF)
UNF	durkin, margaretlobbyist	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	durkin, margaretlobbyist	Individual	Oral
FWA	Enten, Robert	Maryland Bankers Association	Oral
FWA	Richards, Evanlobbyist	Maryland Bankers Association	Written (PDF)
FWA	Colbert, Renata	Motion Picture Association	Written (PDF)
FWA	Hughes, Sabina	National Center on Sexual Exploitation	Oral + Written (PDF)
INFO	Lynch, Meghan	Maryland Department of Health	Written (PDF)
INFO	locklair, caileylobbyist	Maryland Retailers Association	Oral
INFO	Abrams, Hanna	Individual	Written (PDF)
INFO	Abrams, Hanna	Individual	Written (PDF)
INFO	Vetter, Drew	Individual	Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

CCIAUNF 1

Chamber of ProgressUNF 2

Computer & Communications Industry AssociationUNF 1

Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC)UNF 1

Entertainment Software AssociationUNF 1

FairplayUNF 1

Information Technology Industry CouncilUNF 1

Manis Canning & AssociatesUNF 1

Maryland Bankers AssociationFWA 2

Maryland Chamber of CommerceUNF 1

Maryland Department of HealthUNF 1INFO 1

Maryland Psychological AssociationUNF 1

Maryland Retailers AssociationUNF 1INFO 1

Maryland Tech CouncilUNF 1

Motion Picture AssociationFWA 1UNF 1

National Center on Sexual ExploitationFWA 1

Rape, Abuse, and Incest National NetworkFAV 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

UNFStokes, MeganCCIARegistered for: Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA)

UNFJanuary, BriannaChamber of ProgressRegistered for: Chamber of Progress

UNFFavazza, JohnManis Canning & AssociatesRegistered for: Adventist HealthCare, Inc.; Alkermes; American Chemistry Council; Amrize North America Inc., formerly Holcim Participations (US) Inc.; Baltimore Cyber Range LLC dba BCR Cyber; Baltimore Ravens…

UNFWiggins, GrasonMaryland Chamber of CommerceRegistered for: Maryland Chamber of Commerce; United Way of Central Maryland, Inc.; Madison Marquette Property Investments LLC; Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund; Family Tree, The; OVG Facilities…

UNFlocklair, caileyMaryland Retailers AssociationRegistered for: HPSO Investments LLC, T/A Riverboat on the Potomac; Maryland Retailers Alliance; Maryland Retailers Association

UNFdurkin, margaretRegistered for: TechNet

FWARichards, EvanMaryland Bankers AssociationRegistered for: Maryland Bankers Association

INFOlocklair, caileyMaryland Retailers AssociationRegistered for: HPSO Investments LLC, T/A Riverboat on the Potomac; Maryland Retailers Alliance; Maryland Retailers Association