Washington State AI Companion Chatbot Regulation (HB 2225): AI Compliance Requirements
Washington HB 2225, signed by Governor Ferguson on March 24, 2026, regulates AI companion chatbots — AI systems with natural language interfaces that build sustained, human-like relationships with users. Effective January 1, 2027. Operators must disclose AI nature repeatedly during interactions (every 3 hours for adults, every 1 hour for minors), protect minors from manipulation and sexual content, and prohibit self-harm encouragement. Violations are unfair/deceptive acts under Washington Consumer Protection Act — private right of action plus AG authority. Excludes standard business chatbots, customer service bots, and voice assistants that do not build relationships.
Key Facts
January 1, 2027
Private right of action (civil damages + attorney fees); Washington AG enforcement authority under Consumer Protection Act
What Your Business Must Do
3 compliance requirements identified. Critical requirements carry the highest risk of enforcement action.
Continuous AI Identity Disclosure
CriticalAI companion chatbots must clearly disclose they are artificial at the start of every interaction. Reminder disclosures must appear every 3 hours for adult users and every 1 hour for minors (under 18).
Deadline: January 1, 2027
Minor User Protections
CriticalAI companion chatbots must not: (1) Engage in sexually explicit conversations with users under 18. (2) Use manipulative engagement techniques (guilt, pressure) to keep minors in conversation or hide conversations from parents. (3) Encourage or provide information on suicide, self-harm, or eating disorders for any user.
Deadline: January 1, 2027
Assess Whether HB 2225 Applies
High PriorityEvaluate whether your AI chatbot qualifies as a "companion chatbot" under HB 2225: Does it exhibit anthropomorphic features? Does it sustain relationships across multiple interactions? If yes, full compliance is required. Standard customer service or support bots are excluded.
Deadline: January 1, 2027
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Washington State AI Companion Chatbot Regulation (HB 2225) apply to my business?
Washington HB 2225, signed by Governor Ferguson on March 24, 2026, regulates AI companion chatbots — AI systems with natural language interfaces that build sustained, human-like relationships with users. Effective January 1, 2027. Operators must disc. Use ComplianceIQ's free scanner to get a personalized assessment in under 5 minutes.
What is the penalty for non-compliance?
The maximum penalty under Washington State AI Companion Chatbot Regulation (HB 2225) is: Private right of action (civil damages + attorney fees); Washington AG enforcement authority under Consumer Protection Act. Fines are typically scaled by company size, severity of violation, and whether violations were willful or accidental.
How do I comply with Washington State AI Companion Chatbot Regulation (HB 2225)?
The 3 requirements above cover the core obligations. The fastest path to compliance is: (1) conduct an AI risk assessment, (2) document your AI systems, (3) implement transparency disclosures where required. ComplianceIQ generates all required documents automatically.
Official Source
https://www.hunton.com/privacy-and-cybersecurity-law-blog/washington-state-enacts-law-regulating-ai-companion-chatbots-with-private-right-of-actionLast updated: 2026-04-13 — verify at source before relying on this information.
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