# California AI mental health regulation legislation > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/california-ai-mental-health-regulation-legislation > Updated: 2026-08-09T23:00:36.000Z. Sources: 8. Developments: 2. California lawmakers are advancing Senate Bill 903, a piece of legislation designed to regulate the use of artificial intelligence in mental health services. Authored by Senator Steve Padilla, the bill prohibits companies from advertising chatbots as forms of therapy and prevents AI systems from making independent therapeutic decisions, detecting emotions, or generating treatment plans without licensed professional oversight. The bill requires health providers to obtain explicit patient consent and provide written disclosure if they use AI to record sessions or triage care. While the legislation allows clinicians to use AI for limited administrative or supplementary tasks, it seeks to establish guardrails following lawsuits alleging that AI chatbots contributed to user suicides. The proposal has gained support from professional associations and the National Union of Healthcare Workers. However, industry groups like TechNet have raised concerns that the regulation could create clinician bottlenecks and hinder access to care during existing behavioral healthcare shortages. ## Timeline ### 2026-08-09: California Senate Bill 903 targets AI chatbot advertising and clinical use California's Senate Bill 903 seeks to prevent companies from advertising AI chatbots as therapists and requires licensed professional oversight for AI-driven mental health decisions. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/california-senate-bill-903-targets-ai-chatbot-advertising-and-clinical-use ### 2026-08-06: California Senate Bill 903 Targets AI Chatbot Therapy California's SB 903 would ban AI chatbot therapy ads, require professional oversight, and demand patient consent, amid rising use and lawsuits alleging AI‑related suicides. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/california-senate-bill-903-targets-ai-chatbot-therapy --- Cite as: California AI mental health regulation legislation. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/california-ai-mental-health-regulation-legislation