- jurisdiction
- Washington
- level
- state
- domain
- safety
- status
- enacted-pending
- scope
- Regulates AI systems designed to engage users in ongoing human-like interactions via natural-language interfaces that sustain relationships across multiple conversations. Excludes business-oriented bots, gaming applications, general virtual assistants, consumer-electronics interfaces, and narrowly tailored educational tools.
- obligations
- Operators must clearly and conspicuously disclose the chatbot is artificial (at interaction start, with reminders every 3 hours for adults / hourly for minors under 18); must implement measures preventing sexually explicit content and manipulative engagement tactics aimed at minors; must maintain and disclose protocols for detecting suicidal ideation/self-harm expressions and provide crisis-resource referrals.
- effectiveDate
- 2027-01-01
- enactedDate
- 2026-03-24
- penalties
- Violation constitutes an unfair or deceptive act under the Washington Consumer Protection Act; includes a private right of action in addition to Attorney General enforcement.
- appliesTo
- Operators of AI companion chatbot platforms accessible to Washington users
- notes
- Enacted as Chapter 168, 2026 Laws per official bill summary page. Domain detail: companion chatbots / consumer protection.
