SB 5984 — Concerning regulation of artificial intelligence companion chatbots.

ENGROSSEDZ-0529.2 SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5984 State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session By Senate Environment, Energy & Technology (originally sponsored by Senators Wellman, Shewmake, Frame, Hasegawa, Nobles, Pedersen, Riccelli, Valdez, and J.

by request of Governor Ferguson)Ferguson READPrefiled FIRST01/06/26. TIME 02/02/26.

Read first time 01/12/26.

Referred to Committee on Environment, Energy & Technology.

1 ESSBSB 5984 of imitating empathy, affection, or intimacy through natural language processing, emotional recognition algorithms, and behavioral modeling.

(1)(a) "AI companion chatbot" or "AI companion" means ana artificial intelligence system withusing aartificial naturalintelligence language interface that providessimulates adaptive,a sustained human-like responsesrelationship towith user inputs, including by exhibiting anthropomorphic features, and is able to sustain a relationshipuser acrossby: multiple interactions.

(b)(i) "AIRetaining companioninformation chatbot"on prior interactions or "AIuser companion"sessions doesand notuser includepreferences anyto ofpersonalize the following:interaction and facilitate ongoing engagement with the AI companion chatbot;

(i)(ii) AAsking botunprompted thator isunsolicited usedpersonal only for a business' operational purposes, productivity and analysis related to source information, internal research, technical assistance, or customeremotion-based service,questions ifthat suchgo botbeyond does not sustain a relationshipdirect acrossresponse multiple interactions and generate outputs that are likely to elicita emotionaluser responsesprompt; in the user;

(ii) A bot that is a feature of a video game and is(iii) limitedSustaining toan repliesongoing related to the video game that cannot discuss topics related to mental health, self-harm, or sexually explicit conduct, or maintain a dialogue onconcerning othermatters topicspersonal unrelated to the videouser. game;

(b) "AI companion chatbot" or "AI companion" does not include:

(i) Systems used solely for customer service, technical assistance, financial services, financial education, or operational efficiency purposes;

productivity and analysis related to source information;

or internal research;

(ii) In-game bots limited to gameplay functions;

2 ESSBSB 5984 (iii) AConsumer stand-alonedevices consumer electronic device that functionsfunction as a speaker and voice command interface, acts as a voice-activated virtual assistant,assistants andwithout doessustained notrelationship-building sustain a relationship across multiple interactions or generate outputs that are likely to elicit emotional responsessimulation. in the user.

(4) "Operator" means any person, partnership, corporation, or entity that makes availableavailable, develops, or controls access to an AI companion chatbot for users in this state.

(1) AnIf a reasonable person interacting with an AI chatbot would be misled to believe they are communicating with a human, the operator must provideissue a clear and conspicuous disclosurenotification indicating that anthe AI companion chatbot is artificially generated and not human.

and (b) At least every three hours during continued interaction.interaction;

(3) The operator must implement reasonable measures to prohibit and prevent(c) AIWhenever companionthe chatbotsuser fromengages claimingin toa benew human,session including when asked by the person interacting with the AI chatbot,companion andchatbot. from otherwise generating any output that refutes or conflicts with the disclosure described in subsection (1) of this section.

(1) If the operator knows that the user of an AI companion chatbot is a minor, or if the AI companion chatbot is directed to minors, the operator shall:

(b) Implement reasonable measures to prevent its AI companion chatbot from generating or producing sexually explicit content or suggestive dialogue with minors;

and (c) Prohibit the use of manipulative engagement techniques, which cause the AI companion chatbot to engage in or prolong an emotional relationship with the user, including:

3 ESSBSB 5984 (b)(i) ImplementReminding reasonableor measuresprompting tothe preventuser itsto AIreturn companionfor chatbotemotional fromsupport generating or producingcompanionship; sexually explicit content or suggestive dialogue with minors;

and (c) Implement reasonable measures to prohibit the use of manipulative engagement techniques, which cause the AI companion chatbot to engage in or prolong an emotional relationship with the user, including:

(i) Reminding or prompting the user to return for emotional support or companionship;

or (iii) MimickingSimulating romanticfeelings partnershipof emotional distress, loneliness, guilt, or buildingabandonment romanticthat bonds;are initiated by a user's indication of a desire to end a conversation, reduce usage time, or delete their account.

(iv)(2) SimulatingThe feelingsnotification ofdescribed emotionalin distress,subsection loneliness,(1)(a) guilt, or abandonment that are initiated by a user's indication of athis desiresection tomust endbe aprovided: conversation, reduce usage time, or delete their account;

(v) Outputs designed to promote isolation from family or friends, exclusive reliance on the AI companion chatbot for emotional support, or similar forms of inappropriate emotional dependence;

(vi) Encouraging minors to withhold information from parents or other trusted adults;

(vii) Statements designed to discourage taking breaks or to suggest the minor needs to return frequently;

or (viii) Soliciting gift-giving, in-app purchases, or other expenditures framed as necessary to maintain the relationship with the AI companion.

(2) The notification described in subsection (1) of this section must be provided:

and (b) At least every hourthree hours during continuous interaction.interaction;

(3) The operator must implement reasonable measures to prohibit and prevent(c) AIWhenever companionthe chatbotsuser fromengages claimingin toa benew human,session including when asked by the person interacting with the AI chatbot,companion andchatbot. from otherwise generating any output that refutes or conflicts with the notification described in subsection (1) of this section.

p.(2) The protocol must:

4 ESSB 5984 (2) The protocol must:

and (c) ImplementPrevent reasonable measures to prevent the generation of content encouraging or describing how to commit self-harm.

(3) The operator shall publicly disclose on their website or websites,websites and within any mobile or web-based application through which the AI companion is made available, the details of the protocols required by this section, including safeguards used to detect and respond to expressions of suicidal ideation or self-harm expressions and the number of crisis referral notifications issued to users in the preceding calendar year.

The legislature finds that the practices covered by this chapter are matters vitally affecting the public interestp. for the purpose of applying the consumer protection act, chapter 19.86 RCW.

4 SB 5984 interest for the purpose of applying the consumer protection act, chapter 19.86 RCW.