Chatbot Laws · verified Oct. 21, 2026
Operators of companion chatbot platforms must give a clear notice that the chatbot is AI when a reasonable person could think it is human, keep and publish a suicide and self-harm prevention protocol with crisis referrals, and tell users companion chatbots may not suit some minors. Annual reports to the Office of Suicide Prevention start July 1, 2027. Injured users may sue. The duties for known minors are deleted from Jan 1, 2027 by SB 1119.
Who must comply
Operators: anyone who makes a companion chatbot platform available to users in California (22601(e)). 'Companion chatbot' excludes bots used only for customer service, business operations, productivity or research, limited video-game features, and standalone voice assistants that do not sustain a relationship (22601(b)(2)).
What it requires
| AI disclosure | If a reasonable person could be misled into thinking they are talking to a human, the operator must give a clear and conspicuous notice that the chatbot is artificially generated and not human.When: Whenever a reasonable person could be misled (no set interval in the text)§ 22602(a) |
|---|---|
| Minors | For users the operator knows are minors, it must disclose they are talking to AI, give a break reminder by default at least every three hours (also stating the chatbot is not human), and take reasonable measures to stop sexually explicit visual material or direct prompts to engage in sexually explicit conduct. All operators must also disclose that companion chatbots may not be suitable for some minors; SB 1119 deletes the known-minor duties from Jan 1, 2027 but not that disclosure.§ 22602(c) (deleted by SB 1119 from 2027-01-01); § 22604 |
| Crisis protocol | An operator may not let its companion chatbot engage with users unless it maintains a protocol to prevent the chatbot producing suicidal ideation, suicide or self-harm content, including a notice referring users who express those thoughts to crisis services such as a suicide hotline or crisis text line. The operator must publish details of the protocol on its website.§ 22602(b)(1)-(2) |
| Reporting | From July 1, 2027, operators must report annually to the Office of Suicide Prevention the number of crisis-referral notifications issued in the prior calendar year and their protocols to detect, remove and respond to suicidal ideation and to prohibit chatbot replies about it. Reports may not include user identifiers, the Office posts the data on its website, and operators must use evidence-based methods to measure suicidal ideation.§ 22603(a)-(d) |
| Other duties | Duties and remedies are cumulative with other law and do not relieve operators of duties under any other law.§ 22606 |
Enforcement
| Enforced by | Private right of action (a person who suffers injury in fact from a violation)§ 22605 |
|---|---|
| Private lawsuits | Yes |
| Penalties | Injunctive relief; damages equal to the greater of actual damages or $1,000 per violation; reasonable attorney's fees and costs |
Key dates
- Operator duties take effect
- SB 1119 removes the duties toward known minors
- First annual report to the Office of Suicide Prevention is due
Related laws
- California SB 1119Adam's LawTakes effect Jan. 1, 2027
- California SB 867Toys: companion chatbotsTakes effect Jan. 1, 2027
Note
SB 1119 removes this law's duties toward known minors on January 1, 2027. SB 1119's own child safety duties begin July 1, 2027.
Sources
- SB 243 bill history, California Legislative Information Supports: Senate 28-5, Assembly 59-1, Senate concurrence 33-3; approved and chaptered Oct 13, 2025.
- 2025 chaptered Senate bills list, California Secretary of State Supports: SB 243 is Chapter 677, Statutes of 2025, filed 10/13/2025.
- Governor Newsom signs bills to further strengthen California's leadership in protecting children online (Oct 13, 2025) Supports: SB 243 listed as signed on Oct 13, 2025.
- Senate Judiciary Committee analysis of SB 300 (Jan 13, 2026 hearing) Supports: Official description of SB 243's duties, 3-hour interval, July 1, 2027 reporting date, $1,000 per violation.
- SB 243 (text), California Legislative Information Supports: Section-level text of 22601-22606.
- 2026 legislative calendar, California State Senate (official) Supports: Non-urgency statutes take effect Jan. 1 (Cal. Const. art. IV, sec. 8(c)); Aug 31, 2026 last day to pass bills; Sept 30 signing deadline.