AI companion chatbot disclosure and safety act

1st Sub. H.B. 2225, ch. 168, Laws of 2026 (new chapter, Title 19 RCW)

A citation is an address, not a summary. The first part names the law; what follows narrows it to the exact section, article or paragraph.

In force in 107 days, effective 1 January 2027.

An AI transparency rule binding private bodies.

As of 6 September 2026.

What it requires

This law is enacted but does not take effect until 2027-01-01; what follows applies from that date.
If you operate an AI companion chatbot, disclose clearly and conspicuously that it is artificial and not human at the start of an interaction, at least every three hours during continued interaction, and at the start of every new session.
If you know the user is a minor, disclose proactively, take reasonable measures to prevent the chatbot from generating sexually explicit content or suggestive dialogue with them, and do not use manipulative engagement techniques designed to prolong an emotional attachment.
Maintain protocols to detect and respond to expressions of self-harm or suicidal ideation, including referral to crisis resources, and publicly report on those protocols annually.
A violation is treated as an unfair or deceptive act under the Consumer Protection Act rather than punished under a separate penalty scheme.

If you get it wrong

Private right of actionYes

What this law does

Drafted with AI from the cited sources under the direction of UnGovr staff. UnGovr holds editorial responsibility for this page.

This law is enacted but does not take effect until January 1, 2027; what follows applies from that date. An operator of an AI companion chatbot, an AI system a reasonable person could mistake for a human conversational partner, must clearly and conspicuously disclose at the start of an interaction, at least every three hours during continued interaction, and at the start of every new session that the user is talking with an artificial system.

Where the operator knows the user is a minor, it must additionally disclose proactively, implement reasonable measures against sexually explicit or suggestive content, and prohibit manipulative engagement techniques designed to prolong an emotional attachment. An operator must also maintain protocols to detect and respond to expressions of self-harm or suicidal ideation, including crisis-resource referrals, and publicly report on those protocols annually.

A violation is enforced as an unfair or deceptive act under the Consumer Protection Act, chapter 19.86 RCW, rather than through a standalone penalty.

When LexLint raises it

deploys_chatbot
serves_minors

Read the law

enrolled bill text and bill history, Washington State Legislature (app.leg.wa.gov)

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