Artificial intelligence; prohibit use in provision of professional mental and behaioral health care.

HB 1720 prohibits licensed mental health professionals (including counselors, psychologists, social workers, and therapists) from using artificial intelligence in therapy sessions or for making treatment decisions, directly affecting how these providers deliver care. The bill allows AI for administrative tasks like scheduling, billing, and record-keeping, but requires specific written patient consent for AI use in recorded sessions and bans consent obtained through general terms of service. Violations could result in civil penalties up to $10,000 per incident and disciplinary action by the licensing board, as the bill amends existing laws to include AI misuse as a violation. This bill defines prohibited AI use as excluding only therapeutic decision-making, while permitting AI for non-clinical support services under strict conditions.