Illinois Gov. Pritzer signs nation’s first law banning AI therapy chatbots

Gov. Pritzker signed the nation’s first law prohibiting AI chatbots from being used as mental health therapists. AI may be used in administrative tasks, but not to interact directly with patients.

August 5, 2025 — Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzer last week signed into law the Wellness and Oversight for Psychological Resources Act, a bill that prohibits the use of artificial intelligence systems to deliver therapeutic mental health treatment or make clinical decisions.

Illinois becomes the first state to specifically require therapeutic mental health services to be provided by licensed professional humans, prohibiting the use of unlicensed AI-driven therapy chatbots. Utah earlier this year enacted a law that requires AI therapy bots to remind consumers that they are interacting with a machine, not a real human therapist. The Utah law does not specifically prohibit a company from offering therapy services via AI chatbots.

In a news release published yesterday, the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) said the new law “will protect patients from unregulated and unqualified AI products, while also protecting the jobs of Illinois’ thousands of qualified behavioral health providers. This will also protect vulnerable children amid the rising concerns over AI chatbot use in youth mental health services.”

AI allowed in an admin role, but not patient care

The new Illinois law allows AI tools to be used in administrative roles, such as scheduling or note-taking, but draws a clear boundary around direct patient care.

Under the new law, therapists licensed by the state may not use an artificial intelligence system to make independent therapeutic decisions, directly interact with clients in any form of therapeutic communication, or generate therapeutic recommendations or treatment plans without the review and approval by a licensed professional.

Any individual or company found in violation of the Act will be liable for a civil penalty up to $10,000 per violation, with penalties assessed based on the degree of harm and the circumstances of the violation.

Enforcement will be carried out by the Department of Professional Regulation Law, which will have the authority to investigate any actual, alleged, or suspected violations of the Act.

The Act became effective immediately upon Gov. Pritzker’s signature.

ai therapy bots lack empathy, accountability

StateScoop added this additional information in an article published yesterday:

Last year, the Illinois House Health Care Licenses and Insurance Committees held a joint hearing on AI in health insurance in which legislators and experts warned that AI systems lack the empathy, accountability or clinical oversight necessary for safe mental health treatment.

“When we talk about AI, it is already outpacing the human mind, and it’s only a matter of time before they outpace our structures and our systems — particularly when it comes to regulations and healthcare,” state Rep. Bob Morgan, who chairs the House’s health care licenses committee, said during the hearing.  

AI can support but ‘doesn’t belong in the therapist’s chair’

The bill, HB 1806, was sponsored by Rep. Morgan, and lawmakers passed the final version of the bill in late May.

“The people of Illinois deserve quality healthcare from real, qualified professionals and not computer programs that pull information from all corners of the internet to generate responses that harm patients,” said IDFPR Secretary Mario Treto, Jr. “This legislation stands as our commitment to safeguarding the well-being of our residents by ensuring that mental health services are delivered by trained experts who prioritize patient care above all else.”

Kyle Hillman, Director of Legislative Affairs for the National Association of Social Workers, said of the bill earlier this year: “This bill doesn’t block innovation—it draws the line at where innovation ends and professional care begins. AI can support mental health systems, but it doesn’t belong in the therapist’s chair.”

more about ai chatbots