CA AB 489

Health care professions: deceptive terms or letters: artificial intelligence

Prohibits AI systems from using terms, letters, or phrases that falsely indicate or imply possession of a healthcare professional license.

Jurisdiction

California

Enacted

Oct 11, 2025

Effective

Jan 1, 2026

Enforcement

Healthcare profession licensing boards

Chapter 615, Statutes of 2025

California Legislature

Why It Matters

Directly relevant to companion AI and mental health chatbots. Prevents AI from claiming to be licensed therapists/counselors. Sets precedent for AI capability transparency requirements.

Recent Developments

Signed October 11, 2025; effective January 1, 2026

At a Glance

Applies to

Mental Health AppAI Companion

Harms addressed

Child Exposure

Requires

Age Verification Transparency

Who Must Comply

Entities developing or deploying AI technology in healthcare contexts
AI chatbots providing health advice or assessments

Obligations fall on:

Safety Provisions

AI cannot misrepresent itself as a licensed healthcare professional
Advertising and functionality must not imply human professional providing care
Each violation is separately enforceable by licensing boards

Compliance & Enforcement

Key Dates

Jan 1, 2026

Law takes effect

Penalties

Penalties pending regulatory determination

Primary Source

California Legislature

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB489

View on map

California

Focus Areas

Mental health & crisis

Child safety

Algorithmic accountability

Active safeguards required

Compliance Help

AI systems must not use language that falsely indicates the system possesses healthcare professional credentials or licenses

See how NOPE helps

Cite This

APA

California. (2025). Health care professions: deceptive terms or letters: artificial intelligence.

Related Regulations

Enjoined US-CA

CA AADC

Would require child-focused risk assessments (DPIA-style), safer defaults, and limits on harmful design patterns. Currently blocked on First Amendment grounds.

Proposed US-CA

Proposes a 4-year moratorium on the sale and manufacturing of toys with AI chatbot capabilities for children under 12. During the moratorium, a task force would develop safety standards with input from technologists, parents, and ethicists.

Enacted US-VT

VT AADC

Vermont design code structured to be more litigation-resistant: focuses on data processing harms rather than content-based restrictions. AG rulemaking authority begins July 2025.

Pending US-FL

FL Companion Chatbot Act

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In Effect US-OH

OH K-12 AI Mandate

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Enacted US-NY

NY RAISE Act

Requires large AI developers of frontier models operating in New York to create safety protocols, report critical incidents within 72 hours, conduct annual reviews, and undergo independent audits. Creates dedicated DFS office funded by developer fees.

All regulations Check if this applies to you

Last updated January 22, 2026. Verify against primary sources before relying on this information.