In effectSB 243 (2025); amended by SB 1119 and SB 867 (2026)
California SB 243 (Companion Chatbots): Who Must Comply
Which organizations and roles fall within the scope of this law and must comply.
Who must comply
California SB 243 (Companion Chatbots) (Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 22601–22606 (Stats. 2025, Ch. 677)) applies to organizations that meet the following:
- Roles covered: deployer.
- Jurisdictional scope: persons doing business in California or whose AI systems affect consumers in California.
- Industry scope: not limited to a specific industry; check the law's substantive scope.
Common exemptions
Most U.S. AI laws contain narrow carve-outs (anti-fraud, cybersecurity, narrow technical functions). Check the statute text directly — see the official bill text for the exemptions specific to California SB 243 (Companion Chatbots).
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