{"slug":"us-washington-eshb-2225-ai-companion-chatbots","id":"AIPT-POL-0230","permanent_url":"https://aipolicytracker.org/id/AIPT-POL-0230","title":"Washington ESHB 2225: AI companion chatbots (Chapter 168, Laws of 2026)","short_title":"Washington AI companion chatbot law (ESHB 2225)","jurisdiction":"us-washington","instrument_type":"act","status":"adopted","is_binding":true,"ai_specific":true,"issuing_body":"Washington State Legislature","summary_plain":"Operators must disclose that a companion chatbot is AI, repeat the notice hourly for known minors, limit sexual content and manipulative engagement tactics for minors, and keep and publish a self-harm protocol with crisis referrals. A violation is a violation of the Consumer Protection Act.","adopted_on":"2026-03-24","in_force_on":null,"applies_from":"2027-01-01","official_source_url":"https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?Year=2025&BillNumber=2225","last_verified_at":null,"reviewed_by":null,"content_version":1,"review_status":"pending_review","confidence_level":"medium","updated_at":"2026-10-15T06:46:25+00:00","url":"https://aipolicytracker.org/policies/us-washington-eshb-2225-ai-companion-chatbots","status_note":"Recorded on 15 October 2026 from search-engine extracts of the official pages listed; the official text could not be opened from the research environment, so every date and duty here is pending review against it.","scope_summary":"AI companion chatbots offered to users in Washington State.","who_it_applies_to":"Operators of AI companion chatbots.","key_dates_summary":"Signed 24 March 2026; effective 1 January 2027.","penalties_summary":null,"what_organizations_must_do":null,"published_on":null,"date_notes":"Dates as stated in search extracts of the official source; confirm against it.","taxonomy":{"actor":["provider","deployer"],"ai_system_type":["conversational_agent"],"sector":["consumer_retail"],"risk_category":["transparency_risk"],"use_case":["customer_service"]},"sections":[],"obligations":[],"applicability_rules":[],"deadlines":[],"versions":[],"enforcement_events":[],"procurement_rules":[],"sources":[{"title":"Washington State Legislature: HB 2225 (2025-26) bill summary","publisher":"Washington State Legislature","url":"https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?Year=2025&BillNumber=2225","document_date":"2026-03-24","document_type":"legislation","tier":1,"tier_label":"Official primary source (government, legislature, regulator, court, standards body, intergovernmental)"}],"related_policies":["us-california-sb-243-companion-chatbots"],"related_frameworks":[],"faq":[],"source":{"official_source_url":"https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?Year=2025&BillNumber=2225","source_title":"Washington State Legislature: HB 2225 (2025-26) bill summary","source_publisher":"Washington State Legislature","source_document_date":"2026-03-24","source_reference":null,"source_tier":1,"last_checked_at":"2026-10-15","last_verified_at":null,"review_status":"pending_review","confidence_level":"medium","content_version":1,"change_summary":"Added in the October 2026 sub-national research round. Recorded on 15 October 2026 from search-engine extracts of the official pages listed; the official text could not be opened from the research environment, so every date and duty here is pending review against it.","reviewed_by":null},"second_review":null}