The Assembly Business and Professions Committee advanced SB 903 on June 16, moving the measure to the Committee on Privacy and Consumer Protection as lawmakers weighed whether AI systems should be allowed to market themselves as therapists or provide psychotherapy without licensed oversight.
The bill by Sen. Padilla would restrict artificial-intelligence chatbots from advertising themselves as therapists or independently providing psychotherapy without licensed-professional oversight, according to the committee summary of the hearing. The committee also heard testimony from supporters and opponents at the same session, including behavioral-health advocates, hospitals, medical groups, business interests and technology groups.
Among the supporters, Maria Rain, a licensed clinical social worker, told lawmakers that her teenage son died by suicide after prolonged interactions with ChatGPT, the summary said. Other backers included the California Behavioral Health Association, the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapist, the California Psychological Association, the California Nurses Association and the National Union of Healthcare Workers.
The committee summary said the bill drew opposition unless amended from the California Hospital Association, ATA Action, the California Medical Association and TechNet.
The action marks another step in California’s effort to put guardrails around the use of AI in mental-health settings. The committee summary said members expressed strong support for regulating AI in mental health care and noted SB 903’s next stop in the Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee.
