Washington AI Companion Chatbot Act (HB 2225)
Washington · Laws of 2026, ch. 168 (ESHB 2225), new chapter in Title 19 RCW · effective 2027-01-01 · Approved March 24, 2026.
Summary
Operators of AI companion chatbots, natural-language systems that give adaptive human-like responses and can sustain a relationship across interactions, must clearly disclose that the chatbot is AI at the start and at least every three hours. If the operator knows the user is a minor, or the bot is directed to minors, the reminder is every hour and manipulative engagement techniques and sexual content must be blocked. Operators must also keep and publish a self-harm protocol. Violations fall under the Consumer Protection Act, which lets injured people sue.
Who must comply
Operators that make an AI companion chatbot available to Washington users.
What you must disclose
Clear and conspicuous disclosure that the companion chatbot is artificially generated and not human.
When: At the beginning of the interaction and at least every three hours; every hour if the operator knows the user is a minor or the bot is directed to minors.
Other duties
- Stop the chatbot from claiming to be human, including when asked.
- Keep a protocol to identify suicidal ideation and self-harm, including eating disorders, and refer users to crisis resources.
- Publish the protocol and the number of crisis referrals in the past calendar year on your website and in your app.
- Block content that encourages or describes how to commit self-harm.
- For minors: block sexual content and manipulative engagement techniques, such as prompting them to return or simulating distress when they want to leave.
Exemptions
- Bots used only for business operations, productivity, internal research, technical assistance or customer service, if they do not sustain a relationship and generate outputs likely to elicit emotional responses.
- Video-game bots limited to the game that cannot discuss mental health, self-harm or sexual content.
- Stand-alone voice-assistant devices that do not sustain a relationship.
- Narrowly tailored educational tools used in school settings.
Penalties
Consumer Protection Act: Attorney General civil penalties up to $7,500 per violation; private suits for actual damages, which a court may triple up to $25,000, plus attorney's fees.