Illinois law bars AI from providing therapy or making therapeutic decisions
Signed 1 August 2025; announced by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation on 4 August 2025.
The US state of Illinois has enacted the Wellness and Oversight for Psychological Resources Act (HB1806). It prohibits the use of artificial intelligence to provide mental health treatment or make therapeutic decisions, while allowing licensed behavioural health professionals to use AI for administrative and supplementary support.
What happened
Governor JB Pritzker signed HB1806 on 1 August 2025. According to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), the Act prohibits anyone from using AI to provide mental health and therapeutic decision-making, while allowing AI to be used for administrative and supplementary support services for licensed behavioural health professionals.
IDFPR has authority to investigate suspected violations, and confirmed violations carry fines of up to US$10,000. The Act passed both chambers of the Illinois General Assembly unanimously and took effect on signature. IDFPR developed it with lawmakers and the Illinois chapter of the National Association of Social Workers.
IDFPR Secretary Mario Treto, Jr. said residents "deserve quality healthcare from real, qualified professionals and not computer programs". The bill’s House sponsor, Rep. Bob Morgan, said Illinois residents would still have access to "helpful, therapeutic relaxation and calming apps".
IDFPR’s announcement cited testimony heard at a joint subject matter hearing of Illinois House committees in 2024, including the warning that regulators "need to caution against the notion that using AI can be a cheaper alternative to expert medical care."
Why it matters
The Act draws a legal line between AI as an administrative aid and AI as a provider of therapy. Other jurisdictions and professional bodies are working through the same question, and the Illinois approach is an early example of a statutory answer.
The law applies in Illinois. It does not change the position in India or elsewhere, but practitioners anywhere can use its distinction between support tasks and therapeutic decisions when reviewing their own use of AI tools.
Source
- Illinois Department of Financial and Professional RegulationGov. Pritzker signs legislation prohibiting AI therapy in Illinois