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Bill

SB 903

Mental health professionals: artificial intelligence.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Dawn Addis and 3 co-sponsors

SB 903 establishes regulatory standards for California mental health professionals using AI in clinical care, addressing licensing, patient consent, and accountability requirements.

Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
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Bill Summary · SB 903

Legislative bill overview

SB 903 establishes regulatory frameworks governing how mental health professionals can use artificial intelligence in clinical practice and patient care. The bill, sponsored by Senator Steve Padilla, addresses licensing, accountability, and patient safety standards for AI applications within mental health settings.

Why is this important

As AI tools increasingly integrate into healthcare, mental health care specifically raises unique concerns around patient privacy, clinical decision-making autonomy, and the therapeutic relationship. Clear regulatory standards are necessary to protect vulnerable populations while allowing beneficial technological innovation in a field facing significant provider shortages.

Potential points of contention

  • Clinical judgment vs. AI recommendations: Whether AI tools can supplement or replace professional assessment, and how liability is assigned when AI recommendations diverge from clinician judgment
  • Patient consent and transparency: Requirements for disclosing AI use to patients and obtaining informed consent, versus operational efficiency concerns
  • Licensing board oversight: The cost and complexity of establishing AI competency standards, monitoring, and enforcement across California's mental health professions (psychologists, therapists, counselors, social workers)
  • Data security and privacy: How patient mental health data used to train or operate AI systems will be protected, particularly given HIPAA considerations
  • Access equity: Risk that AI regulation increases costs, potentially widening gaps between well-resourced and underserved mental health providers

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

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