House Bill Analysis, HB 2225 - Artificial Intelligence Companion Chatbots (Hearing Date 1/14/26)

Summary

House Bill Analysis of HB 2225, Concerning regulation of artificial intelligence companion chatbots, prepared by the Office of Program Research for the Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans Committee, with a hearing date of 1/14/26. The sponsors are Representatives Callan, Thomas, Ryu, Parshley, Simmons, Leavitt and Berry, by request of Governor Ferguson. The summary of the bill says operators must notify users that a chatbot is artificially generated and not human, with added requirements if the operator knows the user is a minor, and must maintain a protocol for detecting and addressing suicidal ideation or expressions of self-harm. The analysis lists Appropriation: None, a fiscal note requested on January 6, 2026 and an effective date of January 1, 2027.

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Washington State                    BILL
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research   ANALYSIS
Technology, Economic Development, &
Veterans Committee
                                        HB 2225
Brief Description: Concerning regulation of artificial intelligence companion chatbots.

Sponsors: Representatives Callan, Thomas, Ryu, Parshley, Simmons, Leavitt and Berry; by
    request of Governor Ferguson.


                                     Brief Summary of Bill
          • Requires operators of artificial intelligence (AI) companion chatbots to
            issue certain notifications and implement precautions for minors.
          • Requires operators of AI companion chatbots to implement protocols for
            detecting and addressing expressions of self-harm.


Hearing Date: 1/14/26

Staff: Emily Poole (786-7106).

Background:

Artificial intelligence (AI) is defined and understood in different ways. The National Institute of
Standards and Technology, in its AI Risk Management Framework, defines an AI system as an
engineered or machine-based system that can, for a given set of objectives, generate outputs such
as predictions, recommendations, or decisions influencing real or virtual environments.

In 2024 the Legislature established the AI Task Force, administered by the Office of the
Attorney General. The Task Force is tasked with assessing current uses and trends of AI and
making recommendations to the Legislature regarding guidelines and potential legislation for the
use of AI systems.




     This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative
     members in their deliberations. This analysis is not part of the legislation nor does it
     constitute a statement of legislative intent.

House Bill Analysis                             -1-                                         HB 2225
Summary of Bill:

Notifications and Engagement with Minors.
If a reasonable person interacting with an AI chatbot would be misled to believe that they are
communicating with a human, the operator is required to notify the person that the companion
chatbot is artificially generated and not human.

If the operator knows that the user of an AI companion chatbot is a minor, the operator is
required to:
     • notify the user that the chatbot is artificially generated and not human;
     • implement reasonable measures to prevent its AI companion chatbot from generating or
       producing sexually explicit content or suggestive dialogue with minors; and
     • prohibit the use of manipulative engagement techniques, which cause the AI companion
       chatbot to engage in or prolong an emotional relationship with the user.

Required notifications must be provided at the beginning of the interaction, at least every three
hours during continued interaction, and whenever the user engages in a new chat session.

Required Protocols.
An operator may not make available or deploy an AI companion chatbot unless it maintains and
implements a protocol for detecting and addressing suicidal ideation or expressions of self-harm
by users. The protocol must:
    • include reasonable methods for identifying expressions of suicidal ideation or self-harm;
    • provide automated or human-mediated responses that refer users to appropriate crisis
      resources; and
    • prevent the generation of content encouraging or describing self-harm.

An operator must disclose on their website the details of the required protocols, including
safeguards used to detect and respond to self-harm expressions and the number of crisis referral
notifications issued in the preceding calendar year.

Enforcement.
Violations of the bill's requirements are deemed to affect the public interest and constitute an
unfair or deceptive act in trade or commerce for purposes of the Consumer Protection Act.

Definitions.
The bill provides definitions for several terms, including "AI companion chatbot."

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on January 6, 2026.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect on January 1, 2027.



House Bill Analysis                             -2-                                         HB 2225


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