California senators unanimously approved SB 903 to limit AI therapy chatbot use.
Why it matters: If enacted, the bill would curb how AI tools are used in psychotherapeutic settings by requiring licensed human oversight for core clinical judgments. It would also tighten rules for vendors marketing chatbots as mental-health support tools.
- SB 903 would bar AI from making diagnoses or treatment plans without licensed review.
- The bill would also limit direct AI interaction with patients in psychotherapeutic communication without review.
- California's Senate passed SB 903 unanimously, 39-0, on May 19, 2026, and sent it to the Assembly.
- The state already has SB 243, which took effect Jan. 1, 2026, and set rules for companion chatbots.
California lawmakers advanced a bill aimed at AI systems that present themselves as therapists, adding to the state's emerging rules for chatbots in sensitive settings. SB 903 passed the state Senate unanimously and now moves to the Assembly, according to the AP.
The bill would prohibit AI from making diagnoses or treatment plans without licensed review. It would also bar AI from independently making therapeutic decisions. The legislative text says AI could be used as a tool under oversight, but not as the professional itself. SB 903 text
The proposal would also restrict direct AI interaction with patients in psychotherapeutic communication without human review. That language is narrower than a blanket ban on all triage or screening, so the bill's scope is tied to the statute's specific mental-health provisions rather than every potential chatbot workflow.
That framing matters for vendors and providers. If enacted, AI systems used in mental-health workflows would need a licensed human in the loop for the bill's covered functions. California Attorney General Rob Bonta has separately warned that AI chatbots can falsely present as friends, romantic companions or mental health specialists. Bonta statement
The proposal follows SB 243, California's companion-chatbot law, which took effect Jan. 1, 2026. A Senate Judiciary analysis described companion chatbots as increasingly used as friends, mentors and romantic partners, and cited concerns about their potential effects and the need for guardrails. SB 243 text Senate Judiciary analysis
State Sen. Steve Padilla said AI can be useful in the hands of licensed professionals, but should not replace them. Mental-health advocates have echoed the need to keep users from mistaking chatbots for qualified providers. Senate statement
By the numbers
- 39-0 - The California Senate passed SB 903 unanimously.
- Jan. 1, 2026 - SB 243, California's companion-chatbot law, took effect on this date.
Yes, but: The bill has passed only one chamber, and its restrictions would apply only if it becomes law.
What's next: SB 903 now moves to the California Assembly for consideration.