ME LD2082: An Act to Regulate the Use of Artificial Intelligence in Providing Certain Mental Health Services

In one paragraph

Maine's LD 2082 (Public Law chapter 687) bars any person from providing, advertising or offering therapy or psychotherapy services to the public, including through Internet-based AI, unless a licensed professional provides them; violations fall under the Maine Unfair Trade Practices Act. Licensed therapists may use AI for administrative or supplementary support (such as therapy notes) only if they keep full responsibility; supplementary use requires a recorded or transcribed session, written notice and client consent, and AI may not make independent therapeutic decisions or interact with clients therapeutically. Signed April 13, 2026.

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

What it means for business

Companies offering AI-based therapy may not provide or advertise therapy or psychotherapy to the Maine public unless licensed professionals provide it. Therapists using AI for notes or records need written notice and client consent and must keep AI out of therapeutic decisions.

Key provisions

1. 1New 10 MRSA §1500-EE: no person may provide, advertise or otherwise offer therapy or psychotherapy services to the public, including through Internet-based artificial intelligence, unless the services are provided by a licensed professional; a violation is a violation of the Maine Unfair Trade Practices Act
2. 2Licensed professional: an individual licensed or certified in Maine to practice psychotherapy or behavioral health therapy, including physicians and physician associates who specialize in diagnosing and treating mental disorders; AI-based interventions used solely in IRB-approved research are exempt
3. 3Substantially identical new sections in seven Title 32 licensing chapters (§§2113, 2600-G, 3300-J, 3820-A, 6207-D, 7009, 13870): licensees may use AI for administrative support (scheduling, billing, logistics) or supplementary support (client records and therapy notes, analysis of anonymized data, referrals) within their scope of practice, keeping full responsibility for all AI interactions, outputs and data use
4. 4Supplementary support only when the session is recorded or transcribed and the client (or legal representative) is told in writing that AI will be used, its specific purpose, and how session data will be stored, retained, used for training and deleted, and gives consent; accepting general terms of use, hovering over or closing content, or deceptive means do not count as consent
5. 5Licensees may not let AI make independent therapeutic decisions, interact directly with clients in therapeutic communication, or generate therapeutic recommendations or treatment plans without their review and approval, and may not deny services because a client refuses consent to AI
6. 6Licensees must comply with state and federal confidentiality and privacy laws and ensure the AI technology does too; violations are subject to board discipline under 10 MRSA §8003(5); boards must adopt major substantive rules; client waivers are void and clients keep their right to sue
7. 7Signed by the Governor April 13, 2026 (Public Law chapter 687)

Latest legislative action

Apr 13, 2026. Signed by the Governor (Public Law chapter 687)

Sponsors (showing 5 of 13)

Amendments (1)

• House: C-A (H-980) Adopted