Skip to content
AI Policy Generator

ESWhat applies

California · Law

California SB 243 on companion chatbots

In forceCalifornia SB 243

Summary

Since January 1, 2026, operators of companion chatbots (bots that sustain social or emotional relationships with users) with users in California must disclose that the bot is AI, maintain a protocol for suicidal ideation or self-harm with referrals to crisis services, and protect minors. From July 1, 2027, they must file an annual report. Affected people can sue.

Who it applies to

Operators of companion chatbots available to users in California. According to secondary sources, customer service bots, certain video game characters and voice assistants are excluded.

Penalties

Private right of action: actual damages or $1,000 per violation, whichever is greater, plus attorney's fees and injunctive relief.

Official name
Senate Bill 243 (2025), Companion chatbots (Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 22601 et seq.)
Official reference
SB 243, firmada el 13 de octubre de 2025 (capítulo 677, Leyes de 2025); vigente el 1 de enero de 2026
Regulator
Courts (private right of action); California Office of Suicide Prevention (reports)
Official source
Check the sourceHow we verify sources

Key dates

Obligations and dates

Obligations table
ObligationArticle or citationStatusDateWho it applies toVerification
Disclose that the chatbot is AICal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 22602(a), (d)In forceJanuary 1, 2026Applies to companion chatbots with users in California where a reasonable person could believe they are talking to a human. Excludes bots used only for customer service or business operations, video game characters limited to the game, and voice assistants that do not sustain a relationship.Pending confirmation in the official source (last checked: November 4, 2026)
Protocol for suicidal ideation and self-harmCal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 22602(b)In forceJanuary 1, 2026Applies to companion chatbots with users in California.Pending confirmation in the official source (last checked: November 4, 2026)
Safeguards for minor usersCal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 22602(c)In forceJanuary 1, 2026Applies when the operator knows the user is a minor.Pending confirmation in the official source (last checked: November 4, 2026)
Annual report to the Office of Suicide PreventionCal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 22603Adopted, applies laterJuly 1, 2027Applies to companion chatbot operators with users in California.Pending confirmation in the official source (last checked: November 4, 2026)

Disclose that the chatbot is AI

Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 22602(a), (d)In force

Applies from January 1, 2026

When it relates
Applies to companion chatbots with users in California where a reasonable person could believe they are talking to a human. Excludes bots used only for customer service or business operations, video game characters limited to the game, and voice assistants that do not sustain a relationship.
What the rule provides
  • Show a clear notice that the user is talking to AI if a reasonable person could think they are talking to a human.
  • State in the app or website that companion chatbots may not be suitable for some minors.
Typical evidence
  • Screenshots of the in-product notice
Verification
Pending confirmation in the official source (last checked: November 4, 2026)leginfo.legislature.ca.gov returned 403 on Nov 4, 2026. The section numbers (§§ 22601-22605), the three-hour reminder for minors and the annual report from Jul 1, 2027 are still unchecked in the official text. Signing and Chapter 677 come from consistent secondary sources (Skadden, Jones Walker, LegiScan).

Protocol for suicidal ideation and self-harm

Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 22602(b)In force

Applies from January 1, 2026

When it relates
Applies to companion chatbots with users in California.
What the rule provides
  • Maintain a protocol that prevents suicide or self-harm content and refers users to crisis lines when they express it.
  • Publish the protocol details on the website.
Typical evidence
  • Published protocol
  • Log of crisis-service referrals
Verification
Pending confirmation in the official source (last checked: November 4, 2026)leginfo.legislature.ca.gov returned 403 on Nov 4, 2026. The section numbers (§§ 22601-22605), the three-hour reminder for minors and the annual report from Jul 1, 2027 are still unchecked in the official text. Signing and Chapter 677 come from consistent secondary sources (Skadden, Jones Walker, LegiScan).

Safeguards for minor users

Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 22602(c)In force

Applies from January 1, 2026

When it relates
Applies when the operator knows the user is a minor.
What the rule provides
  • Remind the user that it is AI and suggest a break at least every three hours of continued use.
  • Take reasonable measures so the chatbot does not produce sexually explicit content or encourage minors to engage in it.
Typical evidence
  • Reminder settings and content filters
Verification
Pending confirmation in the official source (last checked: November 4, 2026)leginfo.legislature.ca.gov returned 403 on Nov 4, 2026. The section numbers (§§ 22601-22605), the three-hour reminder for minors and the annual report from Jul 1, 2027 are still unchecked in the official text. Signing and Chapter 677 come from consistent secondary sources (Skadden, Jones Walker, LegiScan).

Annual report to the Office of Suicide Prevention

Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 22603Adopted, applies later

Applies from July 1, 2027

When it relates
Applies to companion chatbot operators with users in California.
What the rule provides
  • Report annually on the number of crisis-service referrals and the protocols in place, without personal data.
Typical evidence
  • Annual report submitted
Verification
Pending confirmation in the official source (last checked: November 4, 2026)leginfo.legislature.ca.gov returned 403 on Nov 4, 2026. The section numbers (§§ 22601-22605), the three-hour reminder for minors and the annual report from Jul 1, 2027 are still unchecked in the official text. Signing and Chapter 677 come from consistent secondary sources (Skadden, Jones Walker, LegiScan).

Related rules

Regulatory change alerts by country

Pick the countries you care about and we will email you when we change a rule or an application date for those countries in our registry.

  • Changes to the rules of the countries you pick, when we add them to the registry.
  • New application dates.
  • No more than one email a week. Unsubscribe at any time.

It is a free, informational notice, not a legal monitoring service: it does not necessarily catch every change or within a set time.

Countries · Pick one or more.
US states
Email language
Manage my alerts

Find out what applies to you (free)