Status: Signed into law — March 24, 2026
Citation: Washington HB 2225 (2026); codified at RCW Chapter 19.435 (anticipated)
Jurisdiction: Washington State
Category: AI Governance, Consumer Protection, Children's Online Safety, Behavioral AI Safety
Industries: AI Companion Platforms, Social Media, Mental Health Technology, Consumer AI Applications
Enacted Date: March 24, 2026
Effective Date: March 24, 2026 (immediate upon signing for some provisions; operator compliance deadlines vary)
Summary: Washington HB 2225 establishes safety and transparency requirements for AI companion chatbot operators — platforms that provide AI-driven conversational agents designed to simulate emotional connection, friendship, or companionship with users. The law requires chatbot operators to disclose that users are interacting with an AI (not a human) at the beginning of each session and at least every three hours during ongoing interactions. Operators must implement additional safeguards for minor users, including age verification or parental consent mechanisms. When a user expresses suicidal ideation, self-harm intent, or a mental health crisis, chatbot systems must respond with crisis resources and safety protocols rather than continuing the standard conversational experience. The law is part of a broader 2026 Washington legislative package addressing AI consumer safety alongside the AI Disclosure and Content Provenance Act (HB 1170).
Key Provisions:
- AI Nature Disclosure: Operators must clearly disclose that a user is interacting with an AI system, not a human, at the start of every session and at minimum every three hours throughout extended interactions.
- Minor Safeguards: Companion chatbot platforms must implement reasonable age-verification or parental consent mechanisms to restrict minors' access or provide age-appropriate interaction guardrails. Operators may not use manipulative design patterns to encourage emotional dependency in minor users.
- Mental Health Safety Protocols: When a user's messages indicate suicidal ideation, self-harm intent, or a mental health crisis, the chatbot must pause the conversational experience and direct the user to crisis resources (e.g., 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline) rather than responding in-character.
- No Impersonation of Real Persons: AI companions may not represent themselves as specific real, living, or recently deceased persons without explicit user consent.
- Enforcement: Washington Attorney General enforces under the Consumer Protection Act; no private right of action. Violations may be treated as unfair or deceptive acts or practices (UDAP).
Affected Entities: AI companion chatbot operators offering services to Washington residents — including platforms such as Character.AI, Replika, and similar consumer-facing emotional-AI applications, as well as social media platforms that embed companion chatbot features. Standard customer service chatbots, enterprise assistant tools, and non-companion AI systems (including physical security AI) are outside the scope of the law.
IntelliSee Relevance: Adjacent. HB 2225 regulates AI companion chatbots — a category of consumer-facing conversational AI that is wholly distinct from IntelliSee's video analytics and physical security detection systems. IntelliSee does not operate companion chatbots, simulate emotional relationships with users, or interact with end users through conversational AI interfaces. Washington customers deploying IntelliSee's AI gun detection, workplace violence prevention, and behavioral threat detection in healthcare, education, or commercial facilities are not covered by HB 2225. The law is relevant context for Washington K-12 and higher-education customers evaluating student-facing AI tools, where companion chatbot restrictions may affect other vendor selections.
Compliance Timeline
- 2026 Legislative Session — HB 2225 introduced as part of a coordinated Washington AI consumer safety package
- March 24, 2026 — Governor signs HB 2225 into law
- March 24, 2026 (effective) — Core disclosure and mental-health safety provisions take effect upon signing
- Ongoing — Washington AG may bring Consumer Protection Act enforcement actions for violations
Related Legislation & Resources
- Washington AI Disclosure and Content Provenance Act (HB 1170, 2026)
- Washington Healthcare Workplace Violence Prevention (HB 1162)
- Connecticut Artificial Intelligence Responsibility and Transparency Act (SB 5, 2026)
- Illinois Artificial Intelligence Safety Measures Act (SB 315, 2026)
- State-by-State AI Security Legislation: Q2 2026 Tracker
Sources: Washington State Legislature HB 2225 (2026 Regular Session); Governor's Office signing statement; Washington Attorney General Consumer Protection Division; National Conference of State Legislatures AI companion chatbot law tracker.