California SB903: Mental health professionals: artificial intelligence.

What the bill says

An act to add Chapter 13.6 (commencing with Section 4989.80) to Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code, relating to healing arts. healing arts Mental health professionals: artificial intelligence. Existing law establishes various healing arts boards within the Department of Consumer Affairs that license and regulate various healing arts licensees…

From the enrolled text, September 4, 2026:

An act to add Chapter 13.6 (commencing with Section 4989.80) to Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code, relating to healing arts. healing arts Mental health professionals: artificial intelligence. Existing law establishes various healing arts boards within the Department of Consumer Affairs that license and regulate various healing arts licensees. Existing laws, including the Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Act, the Educational Psychologist Practice Act, the Clinical Social Worker Practice Act, and the Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor Act, make a violation of those acts a crime. Existing law regulates the use of artificial intelligence, as defined. Existing law requires a health facility, clinic, physician’s office, or office of a group practice that uses generative artificial intelligence to generate written or verbal patient communications pertaining to patient clinical information to ensure those communications include a disclaimer that indicates to the patient that a communication was generated by artificial intelligence and instructions describing how a patient may contact a human health care provider, employee, or other appropriate person. This bill would regulate the use of artificial intelligence in connection with providing or facilitating psychotherapy services, as defined. The bill, among other things, would authorize an individual, corporation, or entity that provides or facilitates psychotherapy services to use artificial intelligence tools or systems only to assist in providing administrative or supplementary support …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• Padilla, Stephen (D, SD18) · primary sponsor
• Susan Rubio (D, SD22)
• Dawn Addis (D, AD30)
• Josh Lowenthal (D, AD69)
• Gail Pellerin (D, AD28)

Latest actions

1. September 30, 2026: In Senate. Consideration of Governor's veto pending.
2. September 30, 2026: Vetoed by the Governor.
3. September 9, 2026: Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m.
4. August 31, 2026: Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 40. Noes 0.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
5. August 30, 2026: Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 74. Noes 1. Page 6902.) Ordered to the Senate.
6. August 30, 2026: In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
7. August 30, 2026: Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate.
8. August 21, 2026: Assembly Rule 69(b)(1) suspended. (Ayes 55. Noes 17. Page 6296.)
9. August 21, 2026: Ordered to third reading.
10. August 21, 2026: Read third time and amended.

Votes

• Unfinished Business SB903 Padilla et al. Concurrence (August 31, 2026): 40 yea, 0 nay, passed
• SB 903 Padilla Senate Third Reading By Pellerin (August 30, 2026): 74 yea, 1 nay, passed
• Do pass. (August 13, 2026): 13 yea, 0 nay, passed
• Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] (July 1, 2026): 14 yea, 1 nay, passed
• Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Privacy and Consumer Protection] (June 16, 2026): 17 yea, 0 nay, passed
• Senate 3rd Reading SB903 Padilla et al. (May 19, 2026): 39 yea, 0 nay, passed

Common questions

What is SB903?

SB903 is a bill in the California Legislature (2025-2026 Regular Session): Mental health professionals: artificial intelligence.

What does SB903 do?

In its own words: An act to add Chapter 13.6 (commencing with Section 4989.80) to Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code, relating to healing arts. healing arts Mental health professionals: artificial intelligence. Existing law establishes various healing arts boards within the Department of Consumer Affairs that license and regulate various healing arts licensees…

What is the status of SB903?

Vetoed as of September 30, 2026. Latest action: In Senate. Consideration of Governor's veto pending. (September 30, 2026).

Who sponsored SB903?

Padilla, Stephen (D, SD18), with 4 co-sponsors.

Where is the official record for SB903?

On the California Legislature website: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB903