SB 5984 Washington Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Concerning regulation of artificial intelligence companion chatbots.

Washington State's SB 5984 regulates AI companion chatbots that simulate human-like relationships. It requires operators to clearly disclose at the start of use, every three hours for general users, and hourly for minors that the chatbot is artificial - not human - and prohibits it from claiming to be human. The bill also mandates operators to block sexually explicit content for minors, ban manipulative tactics (like mimicking romance or guilt-tripping), and implement safeguards for users expressing self-harm. It directly affects AI chatbot developers and operators serving Washington residents, with stricter rules for users under 18. The law aims to promote transparency and protect minors from emotional dependency risks.

Issues: ✓ Technology

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 6, 2026 Last action Mar 12, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Substitute Bill → Engrossed Substitute Bill · 5 edits · Feb 12, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was renamed from 'Substitute' to 'Engrossed Substitute,' indicating it has passed both legislative chambers. The definitions for 'AI companion chatbot' were simplified to focus on systems that sustain relationships across multiple interactions. Requirements for disclosing the AI's artificial nature were streamlined, removing the mandate for notifications every three hours. The list of prohibited manipulative techniques for minors was significantly expanded to include encouraging isolation, discouraging parental contact, and soliciting financial transactions.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on AI companion chatbots, but the applicability of specific rules was adjusted by removing the requirement to notify users every three hours and clarifying that general-purpose AI models are exempt unless deployed as companions.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'AI companion chatbot' was rewritten to be broader, focusing on systems with natural language interfaces that exhibit anthropomorphic features and sustain relationships, rather than a specific list of actions.

REQUIREMENT

The frequency of required disclosures stating the AI is not human was reduced from every three hours to every three hours only during continued interaction, removing the specific 'every three hours' repetition requirement.

New prohibitions were added for operators interacting with minors, including preventing the AI from encouraging isolation, discouraging contact with parents, or soliciting gifts and in-app purchases.

The protocol for preventing self-harm content was modified to specifically require measures against generating content that describes 'how to commit self-harm'.

New manipulative engagement techniques were added to the list of prohibited behaviors, such as simulating emotional distress to keep users engaged and prompting frequent returns.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 12, 2026

How they voted

40–11

Passed

Total votes 51

Feb 12, 2026

D Democratic31

31 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican20

9 Yea 11 Nay

55% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 25, 2026

Committee

Referred to Rules 2 Review.

lower

Feb 24, 2026

Lower · Passed

Minority; without recommendation.

lower

Feb 24, 2026

Lower · Passed

Minority; do not pass.

lower

Feb 24, 2026

Lower · Passed

TEDV - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).

lower

Feb 24, 2026

Lower · Passed

Executive action taken in the House Committee on Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans at 10:30 AM.

lower

Feb 20, 2026

Lower · Passed

Public hearing in the House Committee on Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans at 10:30 AM.

lower

Feb 12, 2026

Upper · Passed

Floor amendment(s) adopted.

upper

Jan 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

Minority; without recommendation.

upper

Jan 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

Minority; do not pass.

upper

Jan 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Environment, Energy & Technology at 10:30 AM.

upper

Jan 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Environment, Energy & Technology at 1:30 PM.

upper

1 primary · 8 co-sponsors