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Bill

SB 344

TO TRANSFER THE HEALTHY EMPLOYEE LIFESTYLE PROGRAM FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSFORMATION AND SHARED SERVICES; AND TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE HEALTHY LIFESTYLE PROGRAM.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Missy Irvin and 1 co-sponsor

SB 344 restricts AI use in mental health services, ensuring human professionals oversee care while allowing AI for administrative tasks, enhancing efficiency without compromising therapy.

Notification that SB344 is now Act 444
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Bill Summary · SB 344

Summary of SB 344: Use of Artificial Intelligence in Psychological, Clinical, Counseling, and Therapy Services

Bill Number: SB 344
Introduced: November 04, 2025
Status: Filed
Sponsor: Senator Grall
Effective Date: July 1, 2026

Purpose and Intent

SB 344 aims to regulate the use of artificial intelligence (AI) within the fields of psychology, clinical social work, marriage and family therapy, and mental health counseling in Florida. The bill seeks to ensure that AI does not replace human judgment or therapeutic relationships in these sensitive professions, while allowing for limited use of AI in administrative capacities.

Key Provisions

Definition of Artificial Intelligence

  • The bill defines "artificial intelligence" as any machine-based system that can infer outputs from inputs to generate content, decisions, predictions, or recommendations.

Prohibition of AI in Therapeutic Practices

  • General Prohibition: The use of AI is prohibited in the practice of psychology, clinical social work, marriage and family therapy, and mental health counseling, except as specified in the bill.

Permitted Uses of AI

  • Administrative Support: Licensees may use AI for:

    • Managing appointment scheduling and reminders.
    • Drafting general communications related to therapy logistics (excluding therapeutic advice).
    • Processing billing and insurance claims.
    • Preparing and managing patient records.
    • Analyzing data for operational purposes.

  • Session Recording: Licensees may record or transcribe therapy sessions using AI, provided they obtain written, informed consent from the client at least 24 hours prior to the session.

Impact

Affected Parties

  • Professionals: Licensed psychologists, clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists, and mental health counselors will be directly impacted by the restrictions on AI use.
  • Clients: Clients receiving therapy services will benefit from the assurance that human professionals are primarily responsible for their care, with AI limited to administrative functions.

Administrative Implications

  • The bill establishes clear guidelines for the integration of AI in administrative tasks, potentially increasing efficiency in practice management while safeguarding the therapeutic process.

Procedural Aspects

  • The bill was filed on November 4, 2025, and is set to take effect on July 1, 2026, allowing time for professionals to adapt to the new regulations.

In summary, SB 344 seeks to balance the benefits of technological advancements in AI with the critical need for human oversight and interaction in mental health services, ensuring that the integrity of therapeutic practices is maintained.

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

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