California's 2025 session produced the nation's first wave of companion chatbot regulation, and attorneys now have to sort out what survived and what it means for clients.
SB 243, effective January 1, 2026, is the first companion chatbot law in the country, requiring operators to disclose AI interactions, implement self-harm protocols, block explicit content for minors, and file annual reports, backed by a private right of action. On the same day, Governor Newsom vetoed the more restrictive AB 1064, the LEAD for Kids Act, signaling California's preference for disclosure and safety protocols over outright use bans.
An original complaint helped prompt FTC scrutiny of generative AI and traces the continuing thread through California's new laws. Attendees will learn what each bill requires, why one became law and the other did not, how the state framework compares with federal FTC enforcement, and where chatbot regulation is heading.
This OnDemand CLE program earns 1 hour of General credit in California. It aired October 20, 2026 and features Christabel Randolph.
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