California Companion Chatbots Act (SB 243)
Effective date
Penalty
$1,000 per violation or actual damages (whichever is greater), plus injunctive relief and attorneys' fees. Private right of action. AG enforcement through UCL.
Obligations mapped
6 obligations
Overview
If you use a social or companion AI chatbot in California, the company behind it may need to tell you it is AI and not a real person. The company may need to maintain a safety plan for self-harm and suicide content, and connect you with crisis resources where needed. If you are under 18 and the company knows it, they may need to provide break reminders, block sexual content, and warn you the product may not be right for everyone your age. You can sue for $1,000 per violation if the company breaks these rules.
This is an AI-specific state law.
See if this regulation applies to your company with the free exposure scan.
Who this applies to
This regulation applies to the following roles:
- Developers of covered AI systems
- Deployers and users of covered AI systems
- Organizations operating in California
This regulation applies to both companies that build AI products and companies that use AI tools from other vendors.
AB 1064
AI categories covered
- Consumer-facing AI
Specific AI use cases:
- Companion, relationship, or social chatbots
What this requires you to do
6 obligations identified from statutory analysis.
SB 243 minor disclosure provisions
SB 243 suitability disclosure provisions
SB 243 safety protocol provisions
SB 243 minor content provisions
SB 243 minor protection provisions
Regulation summaries are simplified for readability and may not capture every nuance of the underlying statute. Verify important details against primary sources linked on this page.
Enforcement and penalties
$1,000 per violation or actual damages (whichever is greater), plus injunctive relief and attorneys' fees. Private right of action. AG enforcement through UCL.
Private right of action: plaintiffs may bring direct claims in addition to government enforcement.
Penalty amounts are based on statutory text and may be subject to adjustment, judicial interpretation, or enforcement discretion.
Legislative history
effective
First annual reports due.
effective
Takes effect.
struck down
AB 1064 (broader chatbot safety bill) vetoed by Governor Newsom.
Related regulations
- In EffectAI-Specific
California Healthcare AI Deceptive Terms Act (AB 489)
AB 3030 (2024) requires healthcare providers to disclose generative AI use to patients and in records. AB 489 (2025) extends similar duties to technology developers and deployers whose healthcare AI communicates with patients or presents as credentialed care. It bars false claims of professional licenses or credentials and requires clear disclosures in healthcare settings.
Effective
- In EffectAI-Specific
New York AI Companion Models Law (A3008, Article 47)
Requires AI companion operators to disclose AI nature, provide reminders every 3 hours of use, and implement protocols to detect suicidal ideation or self-harm and refer users to crisis services. Carries the highest per-day penalties of any US AI law at $15,000 per day. Penalties fund the NY suicide prevention fund. Unlike California SB 243, the New York law does not include a private right of action.
Effective
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Washington AI Chatbot Safety for Minors (HB 2225)
First-in-nation law requiring AI chatbot operators to disclose AI nature at regular intervals (every 3 hours for adults, every hour for minors) and implement safety measures to protect minors from manipulation, explicit content, and emotional exploitation. Includes self-harm and crisis protocols. Targets conversational AI engagement patterns specifically.
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California AI Transparency Act (SB 942)
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California Transparency in Frontier AI Act (SB 53)
Requires developers of frontier AI models trained above the statutory compute threshold (10^26 FLOPs) to publish safety frameworks, report critical safety incidents to the Office of Emergency Services, and implement whistleblower protections. Also reaches large frontier developers with annual revenues over $500 million. Replaces the vetoed SB 1047 with a narrower transparency approach. Currently applies to approximately five to eight companies worldwide given the FLOP threshold. Includes a federal deference provision: compliance with comparable federal standards, including the EU AI Act, is accepted where the statute allows.
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California AI Training Data Transparency Act (AB 2013)
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California Healthcare Provider Generative AI Disclosure (AB 3030)
Requires healthcare providers to disclose when generative AI is used in patient interactions and to document that use in the patient record. Focuses on licensed providers and clinical settings. AB 489 (2025) later extended parallel transparency duties to developers and deployers of healthcare AI, not only providers.
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California FEHA regulations on automated decision systems (Civil Rights Council)
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California Digital Replica Contract Protections (AB 2602)
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California AI Definition Act (AB 2885)
Standardizes the legal definition of artificial intelligence across all California law. Defines AI as an engineered or machine-based system that varies in its level of autonomy and can infer from input how to generate outputs that influence physical or virtual environments. Mirrors the OECD AI definition.
Effective
California AI regulation guide lists every tracked rule for this jurisdiction with timelines and obligation tallies.
Regulation summaries are simplified for readability and may not capture every nuance of the underlying statute. Verify important details against primary sources linked on this page.