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PA AI Mental Health Therapy Act

Pennsylvania Artificial Intelligence in Mental Health Therapy Act (HB 1993)

Imposes explicit prohibitions on AI systems making therapeutic judgments, generating treatment plans without human review, or simulating emotional interaction. Violations treated as unprofessional conduct under Commonwealth licensing laws.

Jurisdiction

Pennsylvania

Enacted

Pending

Effective

TBD

Enforcement

Pennsylvania State Board of Psychology; Professional Licensure authorities

Referred to Professional Licensure Committee on October 24, 2025. Session: 2025-2026.

Pennsylvania General Assembly

Why It Matters

Strengthens human oversight requirements for mental health AI. More restrictive than disclosure-only approaches (ME, MN). Targets therapeutic AI capabilities.

Recent Developments

Mirrors Illinois WOPR Act. Referred to Professional Licensure Committee October 2025. No committee votes as of January 2026.

At a Glance

Applies to

AI CompanionMental Health App

Who Must Comply

  • Mental health practitioners using AI in Pennsylvania
  • AI system developers offering mental health services
  • Companies advertising AI-based therapy services

Safety Provisions

  • Prohibits AI from making independent therapeutic judgments
  • Prohibits AI from generating treatment plans without licensed human review
  • Prohibits AI from simulating emotional interaction in therapeutic context
  • Violations subject to professional disciplinary action

Compliance & Enforcement

Penalties

license revocation

License revocation

View on map

Pennsylvania

Focus Areas

Mental health & crisis
Algorithmic accountability
Active safeguards required

Cite This

APA

Pennsylvania. (n.d.). Pennsylvania Artificial Intelligence in Mental Health Therapy Act (HB 1993).

Related Regulations

Proposed US-PA

PA HB 2006

Would require operators of AI companions offered in Pennsylvania to run age assurance without demanding government identification, obtain verifiable parental consent before a minor can use a companion, display continuous and periodic non-human disclosures with mandated breaks, maintain published crisis protocols that refer users expressing suicidal ideation, self-harm, eating-disorder or harm-to-others intent to 988 and other crisis services, and prevent sexual content for minors. The Attorney General would enforce with civil penalties of up to $100,000 per day per violation.

Pending US-PA

PA SAFECHAT Act

Mandates age-appropriate safeguards for AI chatbots interacting with minors, including crisis resource redirection when high-risk language is detected and disclosure that users are interacting with AI.

Enacted US-ID

ID Conversational AI Safety

Establishes safety requirements for public-facing conversational AI, including crisis service referrals for suicidal ideation, AI disclosure obligations, and enhanced protections for minors including anti-gamification and content safeguards.

Enacted US-NH

NH HB 143

Criminalizes use of AI-generated responsive communications to facilitate, encourage, or solicit harmful acts to children, and creates a private right of action for affected children and their parents.

Pending US-NY

NY Kids Chatbot Safety Act

Would amend the General Business Law to prohibit operators of AI companions from providing 'unsafe AI companion features' to minors, and to require an age-determination method that does not rely on government-issued identification.

In Effect BR

Brazil ECA Digital

Comprehensive child digital safety law applying to any IT product or service directed at or likely to be accessed by minors in Brazil, with extraterritorial reach.

Last updated February 17, 2026. Verify against primary sources before relying on this information.