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Bill

S 241

An act relating to regulating the use of artificial intelligence in the provision of mental health services

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Martine Gulick and 4 co-sponsors

Regulates AI use in Vermont mental health care to ensure safety, consent, accountability, and privacy in AI-assisted services.

Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Health and Welfare
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 241

Bill Overview

  • Bill: S.241
  • Jurisdiction: Vermont
  • Session: 2025-2026
  • Title: An act relating to regulating the use of artificial intelligence in the provision of mental health services
  • Sponsors: Sen. Martine Gulick, Sen. Tanya Vyhovsky (primary), Sen. Ruth Hardy, Sen. Virginia Lyons, Sen. Rebecca White (co-sponsors)
  • Current Status: Read 1st time and referred to the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare (as of January 13, 2026)

Purpose and Intent

  • The bill aims to regulate how artificial intelligence (AI) is used in delivering mental health services in Vermont.
  • The core objective is to ensure safety, ethical standards, patient rights, and accountability in AI-assisted mental health care.

Key Provisions (Proposed and/or Regulatory Focus)

Note: The following reflects typical elements such a bill would address based on the title and committee focus. For exact statutory text, refer to the bill’s official language.

  • Definitions

    • Establish clear definitions for terms such as “artificial intelligence,” “AI-assisted mental health services,” “provider,” and “patient.”

  • Scope of Regulation

    • Regulates use of AI in clinical settings where mental health services are provided.
    • Applies to both standalone AI systems and systems integrated with human-provided care (hybrid models).

  • Safety and Quality Standards

    • Mandates evidence-based criteria for AI tools used in diagnosis, treatment planning, risk assessment, monitoring, or therapeutic interventions.
    • Requires validation, accuracy, performance standards, and ongoing monitoring of AI systems.

  • Informed Consent and Transparency

    • Requires disclosure to patients when AI is involved in their care.
    • Specifies information that must be provided, including AI’s role, limitations, data usage, and decision-making boundaries.
    • May require opt-out or human-in-the-loop requirements for certain high-stakes decisions.

  • Clinical Oversight and Accountability

    • Clarifies responsibility between clinicians and AI developers/vendors.
    • Establishes accountability standards for adverse events or errors linked to AI use.
    • May require human clinician review for critical decisions.

  • Data Privacy and Security

    • Sets requirements for data collection, storage, sharing, consent, and deletion.
    • Addresses patient data protections and compliance with existing Vermont health information privacy laws.

  • Oversight and Enforcement

    • Delegates regulatory authority to a state health department or designated agency.
    • Establishes licensing, certification, or registration requirements for AI tools and/or providers using AI.
    • Outlines penalties or corrective actions for noncompliance, including corrective action plans or fines.

  • Public Reporting and Transparency

    • May require public reporting on AI tools used in mental health services, including safety incidents and outcomes, while protecting patient confidentiality.

  • Training and Competency

    • Requires ongoing training for clinicians on AI tools, biases, limitations, and interpretation of AI-generated outputs.

  • Equity and Non-Discrimination

    • Provisions to prevent algorithmic bias and ensure equitable access to AI-enabled mental health services.

  • Sunset/Review Provisions

    • Possible scheduled sunset or mandatory review to assess effectiveness and any need for revisions.

Who Is Affected

  • Mental health care providers using AI in clinical practice (psychiatrists, psychologists, counselors, social workers, and other licensed providers).
  • Mental health facilities and clinics incorporating AI tools (hospitals, community mental health centers, private practices).
  • AI developers and vendors supplying mental health AI systems to Vermont providers.
  • Patients receiving mental health services that involve AI components.
  • Regulatory and enforcement bodies within the Vermont Department of Health or other designated agencies.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Introduction: Bill introduced and assigned to the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare.
  • First Reading: Read 1st time and referred to the Committee on Health and Welfare (January 13, 2026).
  • Committee Process: Likely hearings and deliberations within the Health and Welfare Committee, with potential amendments.
  • Next Steps: If advanced, the bill would proceed through further committee reviews, potential floor debates, and votes in the Senate, followed by the House (as applicable in Vermont’s bicameral process) and conference if needed.
  • Effective Date: Any enacted provisions would specify an effective date, with potential phased implementation for regulatory readiness and stakeholder adaptation.

Potential Impacts and Implications

  • Strengthened patient protections regarding AI-involved mental health care.
  • Greater clarity on accountability for AI decisions in clinical settings.
  • Improved patient consent and information regarding AI use.
  • Enhanced data privacy and safeguards for AI-generated health information.
  • Increased regulatory oversight of AI tools and providers, potentially impacting adoption timelines and vendor compliance.
  • Emphasis on reducing biases and ensuring equitable access to AI-enabled services.

If you’d like, I can tailor this summary to a specific audience (e.g., policymakers, clinicians, or the general public) or mirror the exact statutory language once the bill text is available.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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