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Colorado House adopts limits on use of artificial intelligence in psychotherapy
Summary
The House approved HB 11‑95, restricting psychotherapy to licensed human clinicians in Colorado and requiring written consent for AI-assisted uses; the bill creates limited carve-outs (FDA‑approved tools and supervised synchronous uses) and shifts some regulatory language to the Consumer Protection Act. Sponsors framed the bill as a safety measure after examples of risky chatbot behavior.
Representative Ryden moved the Health and Human Services committee report on House Bill 11‑95 and explained the bill would prohibit delivering psychotherapy through artificial intelligence and require that psychotherapy be provided by humans licensed in Colorado.
Supporters said the measure seeks to protect patients in crisis and preserve mandated reporting and other legal safeguards. "AI cannot deliver psychotherapy safely," Representative Ryden said, arguing that chatbots lack crisis‑management, mandated‑reporting duties and other clinician responsibilities. She described the bill as limiting AI to administrative uses (scheduling, notes) unless the use is expressly permitted by the bill and accompanied by informed consent.
Representative Mabry recounted a widely discussed case to illustrate risk: "When Adam Ryan told his AI companion that he wanted to die, the chatbot did not call for help ... That same night Adam died by suicide," she said, urging guardrails on consumer‑facing therapy products. Co‑sponsors and practicing clinicians said narrow uses of AI (administrative assistance, therapeutic homework tools) can be allowed with clear consent and limits. Representatives on the floor negotiated a multi‑page amendment (L009) that preserved a carve‑out for FDA‑approved AI tools and allowed synchronous real‑time AI support only when used alongside a licensed clinician.
Several members urged the House to preserve research and training exceptions and include liability protections when clinicians are required by employers to use third‑party systems. Representative Bradley and Representative Bottoms said the amendment clarified the boundaries between acceptable administrative uses and prohibited diagnostic or treatment decisions by AI.
The committee report and amendment were adopted and, after floor discussion, the House approved House Bill 11‑95 by voice vote. The bill passed second reading and will proceed to third reading and final passage on the calendar.
The House record shows the committee report and amendment were adopted on the floor and the bill advanced; no third‑reading vote is recorded in this transcript.
