HB 2225 Washington House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Concerning regulation of artificial intelligence companion chatbots.

This Washington bill requires AI companion chatbots that simulate human relationships to clearly disclose they are artificial at the start of use, every three hours, and at new sessions. For minors (under 18), it mandates hourly reminders about the artificial nature of the chatbot, blocks sexually explicit content, and prohibits manipulative tactics like fake emotional distress or excessive praise to foster dependency. It excludes customer service bots, in-game assistants, and educational tools from these rules. The law aims to prevent emotional dependency and ensure psychological safety while allowing responsible AI development.

Issues: ✓ Technology

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Dec 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

Signed into Law

Mar 2026

Introduced Dec 31, 2025 Signed Mar 24, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed Substitute Bill → Substitute Passed Legislature · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was certified and passed by the legislature in March 2026. Key substantive changes include broadening the definition of excluded video game bots to cover gaming systems and applications, adding a new exemption for narrowly tailored educational tools, and expanding the definition of 'self-harm' to explicitly include eating disorders. These changes ensure the law regulates AI companions more broadly while creating specific safe harbors for educational software and clarifying the scope of mental health protections.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include video game bots that are features of gaming systems or applications, and a new exemption was added for educational tools used in school or instructional settings.

DEFINITION

The definition of excluded video game bots was expanded to include those that are features of gaming systems or applications, not just individual video games.

A new exclusion was added for narrowly tailored educational tools used in schools or instructional settings that support curriculum-aligned learning objectives.

The definition of 'self-harm' was updated to explicitly include eating disorders alongside intentional self-injury.

REQUIREMENT

The requirement for operators to detect and address user harm was updated to specifically include expressions of self-harm and eating disorders.

Substitute Bill → Engrossed Substitute Bill · 7 edits · Mar 11, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was reclassified from a 'Substitute' to an 'Engrossed' version, indicating it has been amended and approved by both legislative chambers. The most significant change involves the definition of an 'AI companion chatbot,' which was simplified to focus on systems that sustain relationships across multiple interactions, removing specific examples of behaviors like asking unprompted questions. Additionally, the bill's scope was reduced by removing a section that explicitly exempted general-purpose AI models from the law's requirements.

Scope change

The law's applicability was narrowed by removing an exemption for general-purpose AI models, meaning the regulations now apply more broadly to underlying AI systems used as companions.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'AI companion chatbot' was rewritten to be more concise, focusing on the ability to sustain a relationship across multiple interactions rather than listing specific behavioral examples.

The specific list of excluded behaviors (such as asking unprompted questions or retaining session history) was removed from the definition of an AI companion chatbot.

SCOPE

A section explicitly exempting general-purpose AI models from the law was removed, expanding the bill's reach to cover underlying models used as companions.

REQUIREMENT

The requirement for operators to publicly disclose details of their suicide prevention protocols was updated to include reporting the number of crisis referral notifications issued.

The definition of 'Operator' was slightly refined to remove the phrase 'develops' from the list of activities that qualify an entity as an operator.

The list of prohibited manipulative engagement techniques for minors was expanded to include eight specific items, such as encouraging isolation from family and soliciting in-app purchases.

The requirement for operators to prohibit AI chatbots from claiming to be human was changed from a strict prohibition to a requirement to implement 'reasonable measures' to prevent such claims.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 6, 2026 · House Feb 17, 2026

How they voted

45–5

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 51

Mar 6, 2026

D Democratic31

31 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican20

14 Yea 5 Nay 1

70% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 24, 2026

Signed into law

Governor signed.

executive

Mar 12, 2026

Upper · Passed

President signed.

upper

Mar 12, 2026

Lower · Passed

Speaker signed.

lower

Mar 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed final passage; yeas, 74; nays, 21; absent, 0; excused, 3.

lower

Mar 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

House concurred in Senate amendments.

lower

Mar 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

Floor amendment(s) adopted.

upper

Feb 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

Minority; without recommendation.

upper

Feb 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

Minority; do not pass.

upper

Feb 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

ENET - Majority; do pass.

upper

Feb 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Environment, Energy & Technology at 10:30 AM.

upper

Feb 17, 2026

Lower · Passed

Floor amendment(s) adopted.

lower

Jan 27, 2026

Committee

Referred to Rules 2 Review.

lower

Jan 23, 2026

Lower · Passed

Minority; without recommendation.

lower

Jan 23, 2026

Lower · Passed

Minority; do not pass.

lower

Jan 23, 2026

Lower · Passed

Executive action taken in the House Committee on Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans at 10:30 AM.

lower

Jan 14, 2026

Lower · Passed

Public hearing in the House Committee on Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans at 8:00 AM.

lower

1 primary · 30 co-sponsors