Introduction

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being used in mental healthcare for functions such as clinical decision support, notetaking and transcription, symptom screening and triage, administrative and operational improvements, augmenting the provider-patient relationship, post-visit remote monitoring, and companionship.Continue Reading Legal Framework for AI in Mental Healthcare

On June 5, 2025, Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo signed AB 406, a law regulating the use of artificial intelligence (AI) for mental and behavioral healthcare. AB 406 comes as other states, such as Utah and New York, have taken steps to regulate AI chatbots, including AI chatbots providing mental health services. AB 406 prohibits offering AI systems designed to provide services that constitute the practice of professional mental or behavioral healthcare (such as therapy) and prohibits making representations that an AI system can provide such care. In addition, AB 406 limits how mental and behavioral healthcare professionals can use AI systems.[1] AB 406 takes effect on July 1, 2025.Continue Reading Nevada Passes Law Limiting AI Use for Mental and Behavioral Healthcare

On March 25, 2025, Utah Governor Spencer Cox signed HB 452, which establishes new rules for the use of artificial intelligence (AI) mental health chatbots accessible to any “Utah user,” defined as, “an individual located in the state at the time the individual accesses or uses a mental health chatbot.” Digital health companies and AI chatbot providers should take note of this new law to ensure compliance with its requirements.Continue Reading Utah Enacts Mental Health Chatbot Law

California’s 2024 legislative session has been marked with exciting developments and a clear focus on setting the rules of the road for artificial intelligence (AI), with some measures becoming law and others stalling out along the way. Last month, Governor Newsom signed 17 bills regulating AI in the Golden State. Notably, Governor Newsom vetoed SB 1047, which would have imposed safety requirements on developers of large models to avoid certain harms. In vetoing the bill, Governor Newsom noted that it was not comprehensive or precise enough, improperly focused on large models even though small ones could present similar risks, and did not take into account whether an Al system is deployed in high-risk environments, involves critical decision-making, or uses sensitive data. Newsom’s veto also represents a big win for the numerous industry members, politicians, and academics who lobbied against the bill, arguing that its passage would stifle innovation in the space. Nevertheless, the AI bills Newsom did sign are expected to have wide-ranging impacts on the AI industry. A summary of those bills is below.Continue Reading Governor Newsom Signs (and Vetoes) Major California AI Legislation