In one paragraph
Louisiana's SB5 would have required operators of AI mental health chatbots to disclose clearly that the chatbot is AI and not a human, to maintain protocols for suicidal ideation, self-harm and harm to others, and not to sell or share users' identifiable health information. It would also have restricted advertising in chatbot conversations. The Attorney General could seek fines up to $10,000 per violation after a 45-day cure notice. It stayed in Senate Health and Welfare and died.
Plain-English summary, written with AI assistance. The official text controls.
What it means for business
None: the bill died and never became law. Operators of AI therapy-style chatbots would have faced disclosure, safety-protocol and data-sharing limits.
Key provisions
- Mental health chatbot: AI that simulates human conversation, generates unscripted outputs and represents that it can provide or help manage mental health therapy; scripted tools and tools that only connect users to human providers are excluded (R.S. 28:16(A))
- Operators would have had to clearly disclose that the chatbot is AI and not a human before access, at the start of an interaction after seven days away, and whenever asked (28:16(B))
- Operators would have needed protocols for suicidal ideation, self-harm or harm to others, including referral to a crisis service such as a suicide hotline (28:16(C))
- No selling or sharing a user's identifiable health information, with listed exceptions; HIPAA privacy and security rules for shared data; ads would have had to be labeled and could not be selected or tailored using user input (28:16(D)-(F))
- Attorney General enforcement: civil fines up to $10,000 per violation, 45-day notice and cure period, $5,000 per violation for breaching an order (28:17)
- Would have taken effect on the governor's signature or lapse of time for action; no sunset
Latest legislative action
Mar 9, 2026. Introduced in the Senate; read by title. Rules suspended. Read second time and referred to the Committee on Health and Welfare; died when the Louisiana Legislature's 2026 regular session ended
Sponsors
| Name | Role | District |
|---|---|---|
| Bob Hensgens R | Sponsor | SD-026 |
Topics and industries
Related topics
Affected industries
This page is general information, not legal advice. Summaries are AI-assisted and may contain errors; read the statute for the controlling text and talk to a lawyer about your situation. Full disclaimer · Report an error