KY AI Therapy Restrictions
Kentucky AI Therapy Restrictions Act (HB 455)
Bars licensed mental health professionals from using AI to diagnose or deliver therapy, and prohibits AI from making independent therapeutic decisions or generating treatment plans without licensed therapist review.
Jurisdiction
Kentucky
Enacted
Pending
Effective
TBD
Enforcement
Professional licensing boards
Passed House 88-7 on February 24, 2026. Crossed over to Senate. Includes emergency clause for immediate effect upon signing.
Kentucky LegislatureWhy It Matters
Establishes clear boundaries between AI tools and licensed mental health practice, prohibiting AI from substituting for professional therapeutic judgment while allowing administrative use.
Recent Developments
Passed House 88-7 on February 24, 2026. Sponsor: Rep. Kim Banta (R-Fort Mitchell). Explicitly names ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude as examples of AI systems covered.
At a Glance
Applies to
Harms addressed
Requires
Who Must Comply
- Licensed mental health professionals (psychologists, social workers, counselors)
- AI system developers and deployers in therapeutic contexts
Obligations fall on:
Safety Provisions
- Prohibits AI from making independent therapeutic decisions
- Prohibits AI from generating treatment plans without licensed therapist review
- Requires written patient consent if AI is used for session recording or transcription
- AI may be used for administrative/clerical tasks with explicit consent
Exemptions
Administrative Use Exemption
AI may be used for administrative and clerical tasks (scheduling, notes, records) with explicit patient consent
- • Explicit patient consent obtained
- • AI not used for diagnosis or therapy
Religious Counseling Exemption
Religious counseling, peer support, and self-help materials are exempt
- • Not licensed mental health professional
Compliance & Enforcement
Penalties
Professional licensing sanctions (unprofessional conduct)
View on map
Kentucky
Focus Areas
Cite This
APA
Kentucky. (n.d.). Kentucky AI Therapy Restrictions Act (HB 455).
Related Regulations
KY AI Governance Act
Establishes AI Governance Committee within state government to develop policies for responsible AI use. Creates framework for state agency AI deployment including risk assessment, transparency, and accountability measures. Committee advises on AI procurement and implementation.
TN AI Mental Health Prohibition
Prohibits any individual or entity that develops or deploys AI from advertising or representing that the AI is or is able to act as a mental health professional or is capable of providing therapy services.
CA SB 53
First US frontier AI transparency law. Requires large AI developers (>$500M revenue) to publish governance frameworks, submit quarterly risk reports, and report critical safety incidents. Applies to models trained with >10^26 FLOP.
CA SB 867
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.
MO AI Mental Health Prohibition
Prohibits any individual or entity that develops or deploys AI from advertising or representing that the AI is or is able to act as a mental health professional or is capable of providing therapy services. Violations treated as unlawful practice under the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act.
FL AI Bill of Rights
Establishes an 'AI Bill of Rights' for Floridians including the right to know if communicating with AI, parental controls over minors' AI chatbot access, prohibition on selling user data, disclosure requirements for AI-generated political ads, and protections against unauthorized use of name/image/likeness by AI.
Last updated March 23, 2026. Verify against primary sources before relying on this information.