California SB 243: companion chatbots
Enacted in force
In plain English
- Operators offering companion-chatbot platforms in California: adaptive human-like interaction sustaining a social relationship. Primary source
- Excludes operational/customer-service/productivity bots, certain games, and simple voice assistants. Primary source
- AI disclosures, self-harm protocols, and extra known-minor safeguards apply. Primary source
- Provide the required AI disclosures within the companion-chatbot scope. Primary source
- Maintain the required self-harm protocols and known-minor safeguards. Primary source
- Annual suicide-prevention reporting begins July 1, 2027. Primary source
Dates and phased obligations
January 1, 2026; annual suicide-prevention reporting begins July 1, 2027 Primary source
Questions from this record
Who does CA SB 243 cover?
Operators offering companion-chatbot platforms in California: adaptive human-like interaction sustaining a social relationship. Excludes operational/customer-service/productivity bots, certain games, and simple voice assistants. AI disclosures, self-harm protocols, and extra known-minor safeguards apply. Primary source
What is the law’s status?
Enacted / in force Primary source
What date does this record track?
January 1, 2026; annual suicide-prevention reporting begins July 1, 2027 Primary source
Has this record been verified?
This record’s accepted facts were last reviewed on 2026-11-13; unsupported comparison fields remain Unverified. Primary source
Verification history
Not legal advice. This page restates the linked record and does not determine whether a particular business is covered. Methodology and verification limits.