AI Laws in the U.S. Create a Complex Landscape for Psychologists

With 33 bills related to healthcare AI policies passed across 22 U.S. states, a complex regulatory landscape has emerged that affects how psychologists utilize clinical AI tools.

As of July 30, 2026, 33 bills related to healthcare AI policies have been enacted across 22 states in the United States. Several states, including Illinois, Maine, Nevada, and Vermont, have passed specific legislation regulating the use of AI tools by mental health and behavioral health service providers. The Illinois law passed in 2025 serves as a model for many of these restrictive measures, prohibiting AI tools from making independent therapeutic decisions or engaging in direct therapeutic communication.

Critics, including the American Psychological Association (APA), argue that these broad regulations could inadvertently limit psychologists' access to evidence-based clinical tools, such as AI-supported programs that flag risks of self-harm or FDA-approved digital therapeutics. For instance, researcher Nicholas Jacobson was forced to halt a multi-site trial of a generative AI tool for mental health in Illinois due to legal restrictions. The APA is working with state partners and testifying before Congress to advocate for legislation that balances public safety with the responsible use of clinical technology.