California chatbot laws

Enacted laws

• AB 1979Health care services: artificial intelligence
  Takes effect Jan. 1, 2027
• AB 1609Customer service chatbots
  Takes effect Jan. 1, 2027
• SB 867Toys: companion chatbots
  Takes effect Jan. 1, 2027
• SB 1119Adam's Law
  Takes effect Jan. 1, 2027
• SB 243Companion chatbots
  In effect since Jan. 1, 2026; more from Jan. 1, 2027
• AB 489AI posing as a licensed health professional
  In effect since Jan. 1, 2026
• AB 3030Health care services: artificial intelligence
  In effect since Jan. 1, 2025
• SB 1001Bots: disclosure
  In effect since July 1, 2019

What California's laws require

• Say it is AIAB 1609, SB 1119, SB 243, AB 3030, SB 1001
• Remind during long chatsAB 1609, SB 1119, SB 243, SB 1001
• Protect minorsSB 867, SB 1119, SB 243
• Check agesSB 1119
• Crisis protocolSB 1119, SB 243
• Report to the stateSB 1119, SB 243
• Limits on manipulative designSB 1119
• No AI therapist or licensed titleAB 1979, SB 1119, AB 489
• Users can sueAB 1979, SB 867, SB 1119, SB 243

Coming dates

1. January 1, 2027AB 1979: The law takes effect
2. January 1, 2027AB 1609: The law takes effect
3. January 1, 2027SB 867: The ban on chatbot toys takes effect
4. January 1, 2027SB 1119: Age assurance rules take effect; SB 243 duties toward known minors end
5. January 1, 2027SB 243: SB 1119 removes the duties toward known minors
6. July 1, 2027SB 1119: Operator duties begin: risk assessment, crisis protocol, safety defaults, ad and data limits
7. July 1, 2027SB 243: First annual report to the Office of Suicide Prevention is due
8. January 1, 2028SB 1119: Attorney General complaint system and first usability test with children are due
9. January 1, 2029SB 1119: First independent child safety audit is due, then every two years
10. January 1, 2031SB 867: The toy ban ends unless extended
11. January 1, 2032SB 1119: Audit duty begins for operators with under $500 million in yearly revenue

Vetoed bills

• AB 1064LEAD for Kids Act
  Vetoed
• SB 903Wellness and Oversight for Psychological Resources Act
  Vetoed

Multistate actions California's attorney general joined

• Attorneys general filing in the Character.AI bankruptcy October 14, 2026
• Letter from 44 attorneys general to AI companies August 25, 2025

Joining a letter or court filing is not a lawsuit or a finding against any company.

Other California laws that may matter

• Consumer protection law: Unfair Competition Law (Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code section 17200 et seq.). It applies to businesses generally, not to chatbots specifically; whether it reaches a particular chatbot practice is a legal question.
• Consumer privacy law: California Consumer Privacy Act, as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act (Cal. Civ. Code section 1798.100 et seq.). It sets rules for personal data, which can include what people type into a chatbot, for businesses that meet its thresholds.

Sources

1. Unfair Competition Law (official source)
2. California Consumer Privacy Act, as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act (official source)