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As AI ‘Therapists’ Dish Out Advice, California Lawmakers Try to Set Some Limits

September 15, 2026

California legislators are racing to regulate AI chatbots used for mental health support as their popularity surges, particularly among teenagers and young adults. Senate Bill 903, authored by Senator Steve Padilla, would prohibit companies from marketing chatbots as therapy, require licensed professional oversight for therapeutic AI decisions, and mandate patient consent before AI tools are used in clinical settings. The legislation has drawn support from mental health professional associations concerned about safety and accurate crisis management, while facing opposition from tech industry groups who argue it could limit beneficial healthcare innovations and restrict access during a severe shortage of behavioral health workers.

Who is affected

  • Teenagers and young adults (one in eight using chatbots for mental health)
  • Millions of daily users of AI chatbots like ChatGPT and Character.ai
  • Approximately 1.2 million weekly ChatGPT users who share thoughts of suicide
  • Licensed psychologists, therapists, counselors, and behavioral healthcare workers
  • Patients seeking mental healthcare in California
  • Families who have filed wrongful death lawsuits against chatbot companies
  • AI chatbot and mental health app companies
  • Tech-sector companies represented by TechNet

What action is being taken

  • Senator Steve Padilla has authored Senate Bill 903
  • The bill is awaiting its next vote in the Assembly's fiscal committee
  • Professional associations representing psychologists, therapists and counselors are backing the bill
  • The National Union of Healthcare Workers is leading a push against unchecked use of AI in mental healthcare
  • OpenAI is recommending users speak to professionals and directing them to the 988 hotline when suicide thoughts are shared
  • Families are filing wrongful death lawsuits against OpenAI and other chatbot companies

Why it matters

  • This legislation matters because AI chatbots are being used as mental health support by millions, including vulnerable young people, without the oversight of licensed professionals who can detect serious conditions through clinical cues. The lack of regulation creates potential safety risks, particularly in crisis situations involving suicidal ideation, where AI tools cannot provide appropriate intervention despite users increasingly sharing such thoughts. The outcome will determine whether California prioritizes consumer protection and professional standards over technological innovation and expanded access, setting precedent as one of the first states to comprehensively regulate AI in mental healthcare. The debate also highlights the tension between addressing severe behavioral healthcare worker shortages and ensuring quality, safe mental health support.

What's next

  • Senate Bill 903 will go to a vote in the Assembly's fiscal committee
  • If passed, the bill would implement restrictions on advertising chatbots as therapy, require licensed professional review of therapeutic AI decisions, and mandate patient consent for AI use in clinical settings

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint