CA SB 903: Mental health professionals: artificial intelligence.

In one paragraph

Vetoed. SB 903, the Wellness and Oversight for Psychological Resources Act, would have limited AI in California psychotherapy to administrative and supplementary support. Recording or transcribing sessions, or AI triage, would have needed the patient's informed consent, and AI could not make therapeutic decisions, produce diagnoses or treatment plans, detect emotions or screen patients without a licensed professional's review. Companion chatbots could not be marketed as therapy. Governor Newsom vetoed it on September 30, 2026, calling it overly broad and saying it would restrict useful clinical tools and reach general-purpose AI.

Plain-English summary, written with AI assistance. The official text controls.

What it means for business

None: vetoed September 30, 2026, so it creates no new rules for AI therapy tools or mental health providers.

Key provisions

1. 1Would have created the Wellness and Oversight for Psychological Resources Act (Bus. & Prof. Code § 4989.80 and following), covering anyone who provides or facilitates psychotherapy services
2. 2AI limited to administrative support (scheduling, billing, logistics) and supplementary support (records and notes, progress tracking, referrals, documentation tools), with the licensed professional responsible for clinical decisions
3. 3Recording or transcribing sessions or psychotherapeutic communications, or AI triage or screening, only after telling the patient AI will be used and its purpose and getting revocable consent; refusing would not affect the right to care
4. 4Without a licensed professional's review and approval, AI could not make therapeutic decisions, generate diagnoses, assessments or treatment plans, detect emotions or mental states, perform triage or screening, or interact therapeutically with patients (unless FDA-approved or cleared and HIPAA-compliant)
5. 5No advertising companion chatbots as psychotherapy or as a therapist; psychotherapy data subject to the CMIA and not to be shared, sold, stored or used to train models inconsistently with law
6. 6Enforcement by health care professional licensing boards; exemptions for religious counseling, peer support, public self-help materials, training simulations and qualifying research
7. 7Vetoed September 30, 2026: the Governor called it overly broad, said it would limit clinicians' use of helpful tools (including by requiring approval of routine screening) and that its definition of psychotherapy services would capture general-purpose AI; he invited a new approach next year

Latest legislative action

Sep 30, 2026. Vetoed by the Governor; in Senate, consideration of Governor's veto pending

Sponsors

Related and companion bills

• California AB 1979Health care services: artificial intelligence.
• California AB 2575Health care services: artificial intelligence.