California AB 489 (AI healthcare chatbot misrepresentation ban)
California AB 489 (2025) — Prohibition on AI Implying Licensed Health Care Status
California · Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 4999.8–4999.9 (AB 489, Ch. 615, Stats. 2025), effective January 1, 2026
- Status
- In effect
- Took effect
- January 1, 2026
- Applies to
- Operators and developers of AI systems that simulate licensed healthcare professional interactions and are available to California users
- Enforced by
- Appropriate California health care professional licensing board or enforcement agency (injunctive relief under Bus. & Prof. Code § 125.5)
California AB 489, signed October 11, 2025 and in effect since January 1, 2026, stops AI and generative-AI products from using terms, letters or phrases in their advertising or functionality that indicate or imply that the care, advice, reports or assessments they offer come from a licensed human health care professional (for example, 'M.D.' or 'R.N.'). It extends California's existing bans on falsely implying a health care license to the companies that develop or deploy AI. Each prohibited use counts as a separate violation, and the relevant health care licensing boards can enforce, including by seeking an injunction.
Who is protected: California patients and healthcare consumers interacting with AI systems that misrepresent professional status
Legal detail
AB 489 (Bonta, 2025; Ch. 615, Stats. 2025; approved Oct. 11, 2025; non-urgency, operative Jan. 1, 2026) adds Chapter 15.5, 'Health Advice From Artificial Intelligence' (Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 4999.8–4999.9), to Division 2. § 4999.8 defines AI (Gov. Code § 11546.45.5), GenAI (Gov. Code § 11549.64) and 'health care profession' (any profession regulated under Division 2 or an initiative act). § 4999.9: a violation is subject to the jurisdiction of the appropriate health care licensing board or enforcement agency, which may seek an injunction under § 125.5; existing Division 2 prohibitions on terms, letters or phrases implying licensure are enforceable against persons or entities that develop or deploy AI/GenAI systems using such terms in advertising or functionality; use of terms, letters or phrases indicating or implying that care, advice, reports or assessments offered through AI/GenAI are provided by an appropriately licensed natural person is prohibited; each use of a prohibited term, letter or phrase is a separate violation. Sponsored by the California Medical Association (per secondary reporting).
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | California |
|---|---|
| Level | State |
| Strength | Moderate |
| Enacted | October 11, 2025 |
| Citation | Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 4999.8–4999.9 (AB 489, Ch. 615, Stats. 2025), effective January 1, 2026 |
| Penalties | Each use of a prohibited term, letter or phrase is a separate violation; board enforcement including injunctions under Bus. & Prof. Code § 125.5 |
| Topics | consumer protection · healthcare AI · automated decision-making |
| Bill text | California AB 489 (2025-2026) — California Legislative Information |
More AI rules in California
- CA EO N-6-26 (AI Workforce) · In effect
- X.AI v. Bonta (AB 2013 training-data disclosure) · Blocked / in litigation
- CA SB 1168 — data center grid cost allocation · Enacted (not yet in effect)
- California SB 1119 Adam's Law, companion chatbots (2026) · Enacted (not yet in effect)
- California SB 867 AI chatbot toy moratorium (2026) · Enacted (not yet in effect)
- California AB 1709 addictive feeds and under-16 age restriction (2026) · Enacted (not yet in effect)
Related consumer protection rules elsewhere
- Missouri AI Therapy Chatbot Ban (SB 1019) · In effect
- Vermont Data Broker Law (H.211) · Enacted (not yet in effect)
- Arkansas Frank Broyles Act AI amendment — voice and likeness protection (2025) · In effect
- PA v. Character.AI (Fake Psychiatrist Chatbot) · Blocked / in litigation
- NAACP v. xAI (Colossus 2 Air Pollution) · Blocked / in litigation
- RI Therapy Chatbot Ban (2026) · In effect
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