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Senate bill · S8484 (2025-26)

Regulates the use of artificial intelligence in the provision of therapy or psychotherapy services

New York State Senate

Same as A9106, the matching bill in the Assembly.

Latest action Jun 5, 2026

Sponsor: Kristen Gonzalez (State Senator, District 59, Democratic/Working Families)

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From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Oct 20, 2026. About our data

Summary

Regulates the use of artificial intelligence in the provision of therapy or psychotherapy services by prohibiting the use of artificial intelligence to assist in providing supplementary support where the session is recorded or transcribed unless the patient is informed of the specific purpose of such use and consents of such use; establishes penalties for violations of such provisions; excludes religious counseling, peer-support, and self-help materials and educational resources from such provisions.

Summary from NY Open Legislation. How we handle summaries

Amends the Education Law.

Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

This bill would prohibit licensed mental health professionals from using artificial intelligence tools in client care except for in certain administrative or supplementary support activities where the client has given informed consent

Filed with the bill. Read it on nysenate.gov (opens in a new tab)

Where it stands

Out of committee and scheduled for a vote by the full chamber.

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Up for a vote
  4. Passed one chamber
  5. Passed
  6. Enacted

Committee

Higher Education · New York State Assembly

Also referred to Higher Education · New York State Senate, Rules · New York State Assembly, Rules · New York State Senate.

Your position on this bill

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Cosponsors

Showing the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.

Read on NY Senate (opens in a new tab)
  • Democratic14
  • Republican1

This bill has cosponsors from more than one party.

Shown in neutral colors by design; Agora is non-partisan.

Show the full list (15 names)

The sponsor's argument

Why Kristen Gonzalez says this is needed

The rise in artificial intelligence ("Al") capabilities in recent years has led to an ever-growing list of use cases for AI. Users perceive AI-powered chatbots, often based on large language models, as more empathetic than human listeners, making them a compelling and low-cost tool for meeting human users' emotional needs. Similarly, mental health professionals may look to AI as a way to augment their abilities and provide better patient care in therapy, psychotherapy, and other related contexts. However, general use AI is often not trained on the nuance of mental health practice. According to the Stanford University Institute for Human-Centered AI, AI chatbots stigmatize certain mental health condi- tions like schizophrenia and enable dangerous behavior like suicidal ideation. Recent reports show that information shared with an AI chatbot does not remain confidential, posing major risks for those that use these products for assistance with mental health concerns. This bill would create strong protections around the use of AI in professional mental healthcare settings. AI should not be used to supplant professional judgment in interpreting client interactions, providing therapeutic strategies, offering emotional support, directly collaborating with clients, or offering behavioral feedback. A substan- tially similar bill passed unanimously in the Illinois legislature and was signed into law by Governor J.B. Pritzker in 2025.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.

Recorded votes

  • Vote: Committee vote · Higher Education

    Senate Higher EducationMay 5, 2026Result: passed

    (11) (0) (0) (0)

Full history

  1. Jun 5, 2026

    In committee

    COMMITTED TO RULES

    NY Senate

  2. May 7, 2026

    Advanced to Third Reading

    ADVANCED TO THIRD READING

    NY Senate

  3. May 6, 2026

    2ND Report CAL.

    2ND REPORT CAL.

    NY Senate

  4. May 5, 2026

    1ST Report CAL.922

    1ST REPORT CAL.922

    NY Senate

  5. Jan 7, 2026

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION

    NY Senate

Show full history (3 earlier events)
  1. Jan 7, 2026

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION

    NY Assembly

  2. Sep 26, 2025

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION

    NY Assembly

  3. Aug 20, 2025

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO RULES

    NY Senate

Read the record