California SB 903 Chatbot Law

Chatbot Laws · verified Oct. 21, 2026

Would have barred anyone from advertising or presenting psychotherapy services as provided through a companion chatbot (including claiming a chatbot is a therapist), limited AI use by licensed mental-health professionals to administrative or supplementary support, and barred AI from independently engaging in psychotherapeutic communication, detecting emotions or making therapeutic decisions without licensed review. Vetoed.

Who it would cover

Providers of psychotherapy services and licensed mental-health professionals (psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, therapists, counselors and certain nurses), and anyone advertising therapy through a companion chatbot. Excluded: religious counseling, peer support, public self-help material, training simulations, qualifying research.

What it would require

Therapy and licensed titles	Would have barred advertising or presenting psychotherapy services as provided through companion chatbots, and barred AI, without licensed professional review, from making therapeutic decisions, generating diagnoses or treatment plans, detecting emotions, doing triage, or directly holding psychotherapeutic conversations (the last allowed for FDA-cleared, HIPAA-compliant tools).§ 4989.84(a)-(b) (not enacted)
Data limits	Would have required AI use in psychotherapy records to comply with the Confidentiality of Medical Information Act and barred sharing, selling, storing or training models on psychotherapy data inconsistently with law.§ 4989.85 (not enacted)

Therapy and licensed titles

Would have barred advertising or presenting psychotherapy services as provided through companion chatbots, and barred AI, without licensed professional review, from making therapeutic decisions, generating diagnoses or treatment plans, detecting emotions, doing triage, or directly holding psychotherapeutic conversations (the last allowed for FDA-cleared, HIPAA-compliant tools).§ 4989.84(a)-(b) (not enacted)

Data limits

Would have required AI use in psychotherapy records to comply with the Confidentiality of Medical Information Act and barred sharing, selling, storing or training models on psychotherapy data inconsistently with law.§ 4989.85 (not enacted)

Enforcement

Enforced by	Health care licensing boards and enforcement agencies§ 4989.86 (not enacted)
Private lawsuits	Not stated
Penalties	Would have been enforced by the appropriate licensing board, including injunctions under Bus. & Prof. Code 125.5; no civil penalty amount appears in the bill text as read.

Related laws

California AB 489AI posing as a licensed health professional
In effect since Jan. 1, 2026

Sources

Sen. Padilla press release (Oct 1, 2026), Senate District 18 official site Supports: SB 903 vetoed; what it would have done.
Sen. Padilla press release (Aug 31, 2026) Supports: Passed the Legislature Aug 31, 2026.
SB 903 (status), California Legislative Information Supports: Veto Sept 30, 2026.
SB 903 (text), California Legislative Information Supports: Definitions and prohibitions.

Questions

Is California SB 903 law?

No. Passed the Senate 39-0 (May 19, 2026) and the Assembly 74-1 (Aug 30, 2026); Senate concurred in Assembly amendments 40-0 (Aug 31, 2026); vetoed by the Governor Sept 30, 2026.

Who would California SB 903 apply to?

Who would enforce California SB 903?

Health care licensing boards and enforcement agencies. Penalties: Would have been enforced by the appropriate licensing board, including injunctions under Bus. & Prof. Code 125.5; no civil penalty amount appears in the bill text as read.