California Companion Chatbot Safety Act (SB 243)
The first US law aimed squarely at companion chatbots, and the template the 2026 state wave copied. Operators must say the chatbot is not human where a reasonable person could be misled, run suicide and self-harm protocols that refer users to crisis services, and give minors a break reminder every three hours.
Key dates
- Oct 13, 2025Signed by Governor Newsom
- Jan 1, 2026Takes effect
Risk areas addressed
Who it applies to
Operators of companion chatbots made available to users in California.
Penalties & enforcement
The greater of actual damages or $1,000 per violation, plus injunctive relief and attorneys' fees.
Enforced by: Private enforcement — the Act creates a private right of action rather than an agency penalty regime
California SB 243 is enforced by Private enforcement — the Act creates a private right of action rather than an agency penalty regime. Its obligations are already live, so a gap is a present exposure rather than a future one. In practice that means knowing which of your AI systems fall in scope in consumer services, generative AI and online platforms, holding assessments that speak to transparency, safety & robustness and consumer protection, and being able to produce that evidence on request.