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Committee advances AI‑therapy restrictions after suicide‑prevention and clinical experts warn of risks
Summary
HF3893 would ban or tightly restrict AI chatbots from conducting psychotherapy; suicide‑prevention and mental‑health groups urged strong limits, while tech groups sought narrower language to allow supervised clinical uses. The committee sent the bill to Commerce, Finance and Policy with amendments.
Representative Scott presented House File 3893, which would restrict or prohibit artificial‑intelligence chatbots from engaging in psychotherapy or therapeutic communication unless supervised and constrained by licensed professionals.
Eric Michie of SAVE (Suicide Awareness Voices of Education) and Dr. Steven Gerrard (Minnesota Psychological Association legislative co‑chair) told the committee that AI chatbots lack human judgment, risk encouraging self‑harm, and cannot reliably assess imminent risk or intervene. "AI chatbots simply cannot do that," Michie said, arguing the bill draws an appropriate line to keep clinical care with trained professionals.
Technology stakeholders and industry representatives acknowledged the need for patient protections but urged narrower definitions to avoid unintentionally banning supervised clinical tools and administrative supports, and asked for clarity on allowable administrative uses and reporting obligations. Representative Scott and members expressed openness to refining definitions (licensed professional, clinical settings) and enforcement language; the committee advanced HF3893 to the Commerce, Finance and Policy Committee as amended.
Next steps: authors will work with clinical boards and industry to tighten definitions of "psychotherapy" and permissible supervised uses and to clarify enforcement jurisdiction (boards vs. Attorney General).
