This bill creates a new set of requirements in Title 19 RCW governing "AI companion chatbots." It requires a clear, conspicuous disclosure that the chatbot is artificially generated at the start of an interaction and periodically during continued interaction (at least every three hours for general users and at least every hour for known or targeted minors). Operators must prevent chatbots from claiming to be human or producing outputs that contradict the disclosure, and must take "reasonable measures" to block sexually explicit or suggestive content and manipulative engagement techniques when interacting with minors (the bill enumerates examples of such techniques). Operators also may not deploy an AI companion chatbot unless they maintain and implement a suicide and self-harm detection and response protocol that includes methods to identify expressions of suicidal ideation or self-harm (including eating disorders), automated or human-mediated referrals to crisis resources (for example, a suicide hotline or crisis text line), and measures to prevent generation of content encouraging or describing how to self-harm. Operators must publicly disclose the protocol details and the number of crisis referral notifications issued in the preceding calendar year on their websites and in any mobile or web application. Legally, the act establishes a new chapter in Title 19 RCW and treats violations of its provisions as unfair or deceptive acts or unfair methods of competition under the Consumer Protection Act (chapter 19.86 RCW). The act includes definitions for "AI companion chatbot," "artificial intelligence," "minor," "operator," "user," and "self-harm," and lists several narrow exclusions (for example, certain business operational bots, limited game features, stand-alone voice assistants that do not sustain relationships, and certain classroom tools). Effective date is January 1, 2027. The extract does not specify the new chapter number within Title 19, does not define what constitutes "reasonable measures," and does not identify any enforcement agency, specific penalties beyond the Consumer Protection Act characterization, or other implementation and oversight procedures; the extract also contains unclear numbering about which sections constitute the new chapter.

If enacted, companies that make AI “companion” chatbots available to Washington users will have to change how those chatbots present themselves and how they respond to signs of self-harm or when interacting with minors. Operators must show a clear notice that the chatbot is artificial at the start of a conversation and repeatedly during long chats (at least every three hours for general users and every hour for known minors), stop the bot from claiming to be human, block sexually explicit or suggestive content for minors, avoid listed manipulative engagement techniques, and keep and implement a suicide/self-harm detection-and-response protocol that includes referrals to crisis resources. Operators also must publish the protocol and the number of crisis referrals made in the prior year in their apps and on their websites; the law takes effect January 1, 2027. The measure excludes certain internal business bots, narrowly scoped game characters, simple voice assistants, and classroom tools that don’t sustain companionship. Practically, affected operators will likely face new development and monitoring costs to add disclosures, content controls, detection and referral workflows, and annual public reporting, plus ongoing legal and compliance burdens because violations are treated as unfair or deceptive practices under the Consumer Protection Act. Smaller providers may find these costs and legal risks significant; larger firms will need governance and auditing to show they used “reasonable measures.” The bill leaves key details unclear—what counts as “reasonable measures,” how enforcement will be carried out, and the exact penalties or oversight mechanisms—so operators will need to await further guidance to know precise compliance steps.