Rhode Island enacts three new AI laws, including a therapy chatbot ban
Sen. Lori Urso, pictured above, and Rep. Tina Spears were the driving force behind two of the three AI bills enacted into law this past week in Rhode Island.
June 25, 2026 — Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee signed three new AI-related measures into law earlier this week, including a therapy chatbot ban, a chatbot self-harm safety measure, and new disclosure regulations around the use of AI to record and transcribe private clinical sessions between healthcare providers and patients.
The legislature’s 2026 session ended a little past midnight on the morning of June 12, after a flurry of votes on hundreds of bills.
Three significant AI-related bills were approved by both chambers, and all three were signed into law by Gov. McKee on June 22.
Those new Acts are:
S 2195 / H 7350: AI Chatbot safety focused on self-harm
S 2195 and H 7350, led by Sen. Lori Urso and Rep. Tina Spears, is a chatbot safety bill focused on disclosure and self-harm prevention.
The Act, signed into law by Gov. McKee on June 22, requires a chatbot operator to include protocols for addressing possible suicidal ideation or self-harm expressed by a user. The protocol must also include instances of possible physical harm to others expressed by a user.
As soon as any of those expressions are made, the chatbot operator must provide a notification to the user that refers them to crisis service providers such as a suicide hotline, crisis text line, or other appropriate crisis services.
Beginning July 1, 2027, chatbot operators must file annual reports with the state attorney general that includes the number of safety protocol activations. That data will be published, in aggregate, on the attorney general’s website.
Enforcement by state attorney general, with violations subject to penalties of up to $15,000 per day, with fines directed to suicide prevention programs.
H 7349 / S 2197: OVERSIGHT OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TECHNOLOGY IN MENTAL HEALTH care act (Therapy chatbot ban)
H 7349 and S 2197, bills lead-sponsored by Rep. Tina Spears and Sen. Lori Urso, restrict the use of AI by licensed health care professionals.
The Act prohibits any individual or business from providing, advertising, or otherwise offering therapy or psychotherapy services in Rhode Island unless the therapy or psychotherapy services are conducted by an individual who is a licensed professional or provider.
The Act also:
prohibits providers from using AI to simulate emotional attachment, bonding, or dependency;
prohibits providers from using AI companions for mental health or emotional support;
prohibits providers from using AI to assist in supplementary support or therapeutic communication in therapy or psychotherapy services where the client's therapeutic session is recorded or transcribed, unless the patient is informed in writing and provides consent.
The Act makes clear that a licensed provider may not use AI to make independent therapeutic decisions or determine therapeutic recommendations or treatment plans.
H 7538: Use of AI by Healthcare providers Notification Act
H 7538 is a bill that requires all healthcare providers and healthcare facilities that employ artificial intelligence to document in-person or telehealth visits to notify patients of the use of AI for that sole purpose. Providers and facilities must also review the AI-generated documentation for accuracy after the visit. Lead-sponsored by Rep. Teresa Tanzi, signed into law on June 22.
The latest on state ai bills
