Maine — Limits on AI in Mental/Behavioral Health Practice; Patient Consent for AI Recording
Maine · Maine LD 2082 / HP 1397 (P.L. 2026, Ch. 687, 132nd Leg.); signed April 13, 2026; eff. July 29, 2026
Maine enacted LD 2082 (signed April 13, 2026 by Governor Janet Mills; effective July 29, 2026) limiting how licensed mental health professionals can use AI: only for administrative and limited supplementary tasks. AI may not make therapeutic communications, treatment decisions, or independently interact with patients. Professionals must get patient consent before using ambient-listening or other AI-powered recording tools.
Technical detail
Maine LD 2082 (HP 1397), P.L. 2026, Ch. 687 (132nd Leg.): permits licensed mental health professionals to use AI solely for administrative functions and limited supplementary purposes; expressly bars AI for therapeutic communications, treatment decisions, or independent patient interaction; requires patient consent before using ambient-listening or other AI recording tools. Signed by Governor Janet Mills April 13, 2026; effective July 29, 2026.
Who is protected: Maine mental/behavioral health patients
Who must comply: Licensed mental health professionals in Maine
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Maine |
|---|---|
| Level | State |
| Status | In effect |
| Protection strength | Moderate protection |
| Effective date | 2026-07-29 |
| Enacted | 2026-04-13 |
| Citation | Maine LD 2082 / HP 1397 (P.L. 2026, Ch. 687, 132nd Leg.); signed April 13, 2026; eff. July 29, 2026 |
| Enforced by | Maine Department of Professional and Financial Regulation (licensing boards) |
| Topics | healthcare AI · automated decision-making · consumer protection |
| Last verified | 2026-08-08 |
| Official source | States Continue Efforts to Regulate AI in Healthcare: A Review of Legislation Passed in 2026 — Holland & Knight ↗ |
More AI rules in Maine
- Maine LD 61 (employer surveillance disclosure & prohibition) · In effect
- Maine Data Center Moratorium (vetoed) · Vetoed
- ME AI Private Images Law · In effect
- Maine AI Chatbot Disclosure Law · In effect
- Maine AI-in-Therapy Law (licensed pros only) · In effect
- An Order Establishing the Maine Artificial Intelligence Task · In effect
Related healthcare AI rules elsewhere
- Missouri AI Therapy Chatbot Ban (SB 1019) · Enacted (not yet in effect)
- PA v. Character.AI (Fake Psychiatrist Chatbot) · Blocked / in litigation
- RI Therapy Chatbot Ban (2026) · In effect
- RI AI Companion Self-Harm Safety (2026) · In effect
- Georgia SB 544 (health insurer AI) · Enacted (not yet in effect)
- Indiana HB 1271 (AI claims downcoding) · In effect
See something wrong or out of date? Submit a correction — every entry must carry a verifiable official source.