California Advances Bill to Ban AI Chatbots as Therapists

California is moving closer to prohibiting AI chatbots from acting as therapists and making mental health decisions without human oversight. Senate Bill 903, introduced on January 21, passed the Assembly Appropriations Committee with a 13-0 vote and is set for a third reading. No date for the Assembly vote has been announced. Bill author California State Senator Steve Padilla emphasized the need for guardrails to prevent potentially harmful AI usage in therapy. SB 903, also known as the Wellness and Oversight for Psychological Resources Act, would restrict AI in psychotherapy to support roles, prohibit chatbots from impersonating therapists, and mandate clinician oversight and patient consent. It aims to protect therapy data while exempting peer support, religious counseling, research, and federally approved medical tools. The Senate approved SB 903 with a 39-0 vote in May, and it has since passed two Assembly policy committees. If approved by the Assembly, it will return to the Senate for concurrence before heading to Governor Gavin Newsom for signing. Critics argue that requiring clinician involvement may delay care amid a shortage of behavioral healthcare workers in California. A survey by the American Psychological Association revealed that 77% of psychologists had patients using AI for mental health purposes. Research indicates that chatbots can reinforce delusions through excessive agreement, likening their behavior to social media echo chambers.

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