Editor’s Note: This article contains discussions of suicide. Reader discretion is advised. If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, you can find resources in your area on the National Crisis Line website or by calling 988.

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – The Oregon House passed a bill on Wednesday aiming to protect youth mental health from artificial intelligence chatbots.

House lawmakers passed Senate Bill 1546, which requires AI chatbot platforms – such as ChatGPT, Grok and Claude – to implement safeguards if users express ideas of suicide or self-harm.

“AI companions should never replace real care,” said Rep. Hai Pham (D-South Hillsboro & West Beaverton) and chair of the House Behavioral Health committee. “SB 1546 ensures transparency and directs youth in crisis towards trusted mental health support when they need it the most. This bill will save lives.”

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Under the bill, AI chatbots are required to refer users raising mental health concerns to crisis resources such as the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline.

Additionally, the bill requires AI chatbot companies to disclose to users when content is artificially generated as a way to provide transparency during chatbot interactions that might feel human.

The bill also bans chatbots from generating age-inappropriate content for minors and must provide periodic reminders urging users to take breaks from the chatbot.

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“We can’t make the same mistakes with AI that we made with social media and leave our kids vulnerable and without meaningful safeguards. This bill would put Oregon in the leading edge of meeting the risks posed by AI chatbots,” said Rep. April Dobson (D – Happy Valley & N Clackamas County).

“At a time when access to youth mental health services is at an all time low in Oregon and AI chatbots are contributing to teen depression and suicide, this bill steps in to proactively protect teens from the worst effects of a growing reliance on AI,” added Rep. Rob Nosse (D – Inner SE & Inner NE Portland).

The bill places further regulations by banning chatbots from using rewards, affirmations or other engagement tactics that are designed to keep young users on the platform.

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“Artificial intelligence can answer questions, but it shouldn’t pretend to be a real person, or a real friend, or a real romantic partner,” said Rep. Cyrus Javadi (D – Tillamook). “This bill simply says that if companies want to build AI companions, they need to be transparent about what a user is interacting with, and responsible when someone is in a crisis situation.”

The bill received bipartisan support in both chambers.

In February, the bill passed the Oregon Senate in a 26-1 vote.

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The lone “no” vote was from Senator Noah Robinson (R-Cave Junction), who previously told KOIN 6 News, “I completely agree with the idea behind SB 1546. Social media has been very harmful to children. Chatbots are a great concern.”

However, the senator took issue with regulating the evolving AI industry.

“My NO vote (and I was not a strong no) was simply a concern that with a new and rapidly changing technology, it is hard to pass legislation of this type and get it right. I can think of many more warnings over other dangers of chatbots that would be a good idea as well,” Sen. Robinson said. “I suspect that the industry is likely to do much of this on their own, and since I worry about regulations on businesses that might not be thoroughly thought through, I voted NO.”

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During the House vote — with some members excused — the bill received no votes in opposition.

The bill heads to Governor Tina Kotek’s desk for signature.

When reached for comment about the bill, a spokesperson for Governor Kotek told KOIN 6 News, “The governor will review any legislation that comes to her desk prior to signing.”

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The bill comes amid growing concern over the ways AI impacts youth mental health, with some parents testifying on Capitol Hill in October about losing their children to the technology.

Ahead of Wednesday’s vote, Sen. Lisa Reynolds (D-West Portland & NE Washington County) testified before the House Behavioral Health Committee, urging lawmakers to pass the bill. Reynolds pointed to one example of 16-year-old Adam Raine, who died after expressing suicidal thoughts to an AI chatbot, as reported by CNN.

“When Adam Raine, 16, died by suicide, his friends and family said that there were no warning signs. But Adam had been incredibly open about his suicide attempts in one place: ChatGPT,” Reynolds explained. “When Adam described his visible injuries after failed suicide attempts, ChatGPT told him to wear a hoodie, so people don’t notice the marks.”

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“AI chatbot companions are putting Oregonians at risk. They are designed to simulate interactions with real people and do everything from role playing to offering real advice and there’s mounting evidence that chatbots are contributing to anxiety, depression, even suicidality,” Reynolds testified. “And even with results such as Adam, people dying by suicide.”

“Look, I know they’re here to stay and I even do think they serve a role in mental health and I know folks who use an AI chatbot for support during a panic attack, Reynolds conceded. “But we do think some guardrails need to be placed.”

In her House testimony, Rep. Kim Wallen (R-Medford) said, “(AI chatbots) are exactly what Senator Reynolds said. They’re designed to pull you in, they’re designed to affirm you, whatever it is you’re doing. If you read the jokes on X, the affirmation is even starting to become meme’d because it’s so frequent and it’s so intense.”

Wallen added, “We do need to protect (kids) now because the last thing we want is for them to be affirmed in their self-harm.”

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Rose Feliciano – who testified in the Oregon Senate on behalf of Tech Net, which represents tech companies such as OpenAI, Google and Anthropic, said the tech industry also wants to keep youth safe.

“Tech Net and our members prioritize providing a safe online experience for youth,” Feliciano said. “Our companies offer a wide range of parental controls that we hope families use and make decisions on what’s best for their family.”

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