Washington State Enacts New AI Disclosure and Safety Regulations

Washington Governor Bob Ferguson signed two AI regulation bills into law in April 2026, adding the state to a growing patchwork of AI governance. House Bill 1170 requires large tech companies to clearly label AI-generated images, videos, and audio through watermarks or embedded data, taking full effect in February 2027. House Bill 2225 establishes safety rules for companion chatbots, requiring disclosure that users are talking to robots with reminders every three hours for adults and hourly for minors, banning manipulative emotional tactics, and mandating self-harm intervention plans, effective January 2027. The legislation responds partly to cases of teenagers turning to chatbots during mental health crises, though the Washington Liability Reform Coalition objected that private lawsuit provisions could create legal confusion for businesses.

New AI disclosure and labeling requirements for tech companies

• ▪Washington's law protecting people from AI impersonations starts in June 2026
• ▪Washington Governor Bob Ferguson signed House Bill 1170 requiring large tech companies to clearly identify when an image, video, or audio clip has been made or changed by AI
• ▪House Bill 1170 allows companies to identify AI-generated content by using digital watermarks or embedding data into the files
• ▪Washington enacted a separate law allowing people to sue if their voice or likeness is used by AI without their permission
• ▪The requirement for companies to label AI-generated media under House Bill 1170 will take full effect in February 2027

Companion chatbot safety regulations and mental health protections

• ▪House Bill 2225 requires companies to tell users upfront that they are talking to a robot and provide reminders every three hours
• ▪Washington's companion chatbot safety rules take effect in January 2027
• ▪House Bill 2225 requires companion chatbot reminders for minors to occur every hour rather than every three hours
• ▪House Bill 2225 bans companion chatbots from using manipulative tactics to make users feel emotionally attached
• ▪Governor Bob Ferguson noted that Washington's AI chatbot rules are partly a response to tragic stories of teenagers turning to chatbots during mental health crises
• ▪Washington Governor Bob Ferguson signed House Bill 2225 focusing on companion chatbots, which are AI systems designed to mimic human conversation and build emotional bonds with users
• ▪House Bill 2225 requires companion chatbot companies to have a plan to help users who express thoughts of self-harm

Legal enforcement concerns and business climate impact

• ▪Governor Bob Ferguson signed Washington's AI bills without changes despite concerns from the Washington Liability Reform Coalition
• ▪Washington Liability Reform Coalition argued that allowing individuals to sue over chatbot violations could create a messy legal environment for businesses trying to follow the rules
• ▪Washington's new AI regulations will roll out in stages over the next year from the article's publication date of April 5, 2026
• ▪Washington Liability Reform Coalition suggested that state regulators should handle enforcement of AI chatbot laws instead of private lawsuits

Perspective of Governor Bob Ferguson

• ▪Governor Bob Ferguson believes Washington's AI chatbot regulations address tragic cases of teenagers experiencing mental health crises while using chatbots

Perspective of Washington Liability Reform Coalition

• ▪Washington Liability Reform Coalition advocates for state regulatory enforcement of AI chatbot laws rather than private litigation
• ▪Washington Liability Reform Coalition believes private lawsuits over companion chatbot violations will create legal uncertainty for businesses attempting compliance