CA SB 903
California SB 903 (Mental Health Professionals: Artificial Intelligence)
Would bar the use of AI to record or transcribe psychotherapy sessions, or to triage/screen a person for psychotherapy, without the patient's informed consent; prohibit advertising or offering psychotherapy services through companion chatbots (including claiming a chatbot is a therapist); and bar AI from making independent therapeutic decisions.
Jurisdiction
California
Enacted
Pending
Effective
TBD
Enforcement
Relevant healthcare professional licensing boards (remedies via Business and Professions Code section 125.5)
Passed the Senate 39-0 (May 19, 2026). In the Assembly: read second time and amended, re-referred to Appropriations Committee on July 2, 2026 (following a 14-1 Do-pass-as-amended committee vote). Not yet enacted.
California Legislative InformationWhy It Matters
Targets AI standing in for licensed psychotherapy and the marketing of companion chatbots as therapists - directly adjacent to AI mental-health and companion safety.
Recent Developments
Advanced through Assembly committee process: B.&P. re-referral June 8, P.&C.P. committee Do-pass 17-0 on June 16, Appropriations re-referral (14-1 Do pass as amended) July 2, 2026.
At a Glance
Applies to
Requires
Who Must Comply
- Licensed mental health professionals using AI in their practice
- Entities offering psychotherapy-style companion chatbots to California users
Obligations fall on:
Safety Provisions
- No AI recording/transcription of psychotherapy communications or AI triage/screening without prior disclosure and the patient's informed consent
- Prohibits advertising or purporting to offer psychotherapy services through companion chatbots, including claiming a chatbot is a therapist
- Prohibits AI from making independent therapeutic decisions
- AI handling of patient records must comply with the Confidentiality of Medical Information Act; bars sharing/selling/training on psychotherapy data inconsistent with law
Compliance & Enforcement
Penalties
Enforced by the applicable licensing board through remedies authorized by law (injunctions or restraining orders, disciplinary action against licensees); no statutory per-violation amount specified in the bill.
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California
Focus Areas
Cite This
APA
California. (n.d.). California SB 903 (Mental Health Professionals: Artificial Intelligence).
Related Regulations
CA SB 942
Requires large GenAI providers (1M+ monthly users) to provide free AI detection tools, embed latent disclosures (watermarks/metadata) in AI-generated content, and offer optional manifest (visible) disclosures to users.
CA CPPA ADMT
California Privacy Protection Agency regulations establishing consumer rights and business obligations for Automated Decision-Making Technology (ADMT) that makes significant decisions including healthcare. Requires pre-use notice, opt-out rights, access rights, appeal rights, and risk assessments.
TX Healthcare AI Law
Requires healthcare practitioners using AI for diagnosis to review all AI-generated records and disclose AI use to patients. Mandates EHR data localization (Texas patient data must be physically stored in US). Applies to covered entities and third-party vendors.
LA Healthcare AI Act
Regulates use of artificial intelligence by healthcare providers in Louisiana. Permits AI for administrative tasks but prohibits AI from making treatment/diagnosis decisions without licensed professional review, directly interacting with patients on treatment matters, or generating therapeutic recommendations without professional approval.
ME LD 2082
Prohibits providing, advertising, or offering therapy or psychotherapy services to the public - including via internet-based AI - unless delivered by a Maine-licensed professional. Permits AI only for administrative or supplementary support under the licensed professional's full responsibility, with written disclosure and informed consent where sessions are recorded or transcribed.
IL HB 5511
Requires covered operators of online platforms to apply protective default settings to users they know to be minors, including limits on algorithmic feeds, a 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. notification curfew and no autoplay by default on addictive social media platforms, and establishes a device-level age-bracket signal that Internet-enabled device manufacturers must provide and operators must request. Announced by the Governor as the Children's Social Media Safety Act, the title of the bill as introduced. Enforced by the Attorney General.
Last updated August 2, 2026. Verify against primary sources before relying on this information.