Washington Companion Chatbot Minor Safety Act (HB 2225)
Washington Companion Chatbot Minor Safety Act (HB 2225) in Washington: pending, effective January 1, 2027. Applies to Operators of companion AI chatbots accessible to users under 18 in Washington. Age range: Under 18. Disclose AI identity every hour (stricter than California's three-hour requirement
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Washington |
|---|---|
| Category | AI Chatbot Safety |
| Status | pending |
| Effective date | January 1, 2027 |
| Age range | Under 18 |
| Applies to | Operators of companion AI chatbots accessible to users under 18 in Washington |
Key requirements
- Disclose AI identity every hour (stricter than California's three-hour requirement) for users under 18
- Prohibit sexually explicit conversations with minors
- Cannot guilt or pressure minors to continue conversations or hide interactions from parents
- Cannot encourage or provide information on suicide, self-harm, or eating disorders
- Must flag conversations referencing self-harm and connect users to mental health services
Notes
Signed by Governor Bob Ferguson on March 24, 2026. Expands on California SB 243 with stricter hourly disclosure requirement.
Frequently asked
What does Washington Companion Chatbot Minor Safety Act (HB 2225) require?
Disclose AI identity every hour (stricter than California's three-hour requirement) for users under 18 Prohibit sexually explicit conversations with minors Cannot guilt or pressure minors to continue conversations or hide interactions from parents Cannot encourage or provide information on suicide, self-harm, or eating disorders Must flag conversations referencing self-harm and connect users to mental health services
Who must comply with Washington Companion Chatbot Minor Safety Act (HB 2225) in Washington?
Operators of companion AI chatbots accessible to users under 18 in Washington
When does Washington Companion Chatbot Minor Safety Act (HB 2225) take effect and what is its status?
Effective January 1, 2027. Current status: pending. Signed by Governor Bob Ferguson on March 24, 2026. Expands on California SB 243 with stricter hourly disclosure requirement.
Related laws
| Law | Jurisdiction | Category | Status | Effective |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California Companion AI Chatbot Safety Act (SB 243) | California | AI Chatbot Safety | active | January 1, 2026 |
| California Adam's Law — Companion Chatbot Minor Protections (SB 1119) | California | AI Chatbot Safety | pending | TBD (awaiting Governor) |
| Colorado AI Companion Chatbot Safety Act (HB 26-1263) | Colorado | AI Chatbot Safety | pending | January 1, 2027 |
| Connecticut AI Responsibility and Transparency Act — Chatbot Minor Protections (SB 5 / P.A. 26-15) | Connecticut | AI Chatbot Safety | pending | January 1, 2027 (minor provisions); October 1, 2026 (general) |
| Georgia AI Chatbot Disclosure and Child Safety Act (SB 540) | Georgia | AI Chatbot Safety | pending | July 1, 2027 |
| Hawaii Artificial Intelligence Disclosure and Safety Act (SB 3001 / Act 248) | Hawaii | AI Chatbot Safety | active | July 14, 2026 |
| Idaho Conversational AI Safety Act (SB 1297) | Idaho | AI Chatbot Safety | pending | July 1, 2027 |
| Iowa Conversational AI Services Act (SF 2417) | Iowa | AI Chatbot Safety | pending | July 1, 2027 |
Put it into practice
- Generate the policy: NIST AI RMF policy generator (generatepolicy.com)
- Buy the policy pack: NIST AI RMF Implementation Policy (cyberpolicy.shop)
- Build it yourself: Pillar 06 Companion — The 2026 AI Risk Register (ciso.diy)