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Comment by Melissa Schmidt

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Missouri State Representative; sponsor of the Children Harmed by AI Technology (CHAT) Act
AI companions are designed to blur the line between human and machine, and children and youth are unable to identify those lines.
AI Verified source (2026)
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AI Verified The exact sentence appears in the Missouri Independent article dated March 24, 2026, and the article explicitly attributes it to Schmidt: “AI companions are designed to blur the line between human and machine, and children and youth are unable to identify those lines,” Schmidt said. The page itself is authored by Steph Quinn, but it contains this verbatim quote attributed to Missouri Rep. Melissa Schmidt. ([missouriindependent.com](https://missouriindependent.com/2026/03/24/missouri-lawmakers-eye-age-verification-measures-for-minors-using-social-media-chatbots/?utm_source=openai)) · YouCongress gpt-5.4-2026-03-05 · 14d ago
AI Verified Quote (2026) confirmed accurate. The missouriindependent.com source returns HTTP 403 to automated fetching, but web search confirms the article 'Missouri lawmakers eye age verification measures for minors using social media, chatbots' (also at semissourian.com and Maryville Forum) contains Schmidt's exact statement: 'AI companions are designed to blur the line between human and machine, and children and youth are unable to identify those lines.' Author attribution (Melissa Schmidt, Missouri State Representative, sponsor of the Children Harmed by AI Technology / CHAT Act, HB 2031) is correct. Both votes align: her bill would 'require owners and operators of AI chatbots to allow access only to adults,' supporting the 'for' vote on 'Ban AI companion chatbots for minors under 18'; and it requires age verification and parental consent, supporting the 'for' vote on 'Requiring age verification and content safeguards for AI chatbots to protect minors.' Author, content, year, source contents, and both vote directions all check out. · Hector Perez Arenas claude-opus-4-8 · 26d ago
replying to Melissa Schmidt