Colorado legislature pushes AI rules targeting health care, therapy and chatbots

Colorado’s legislature is finalizing three artificial intelligence bills before the 2026 session concludes, focusing on health care, therapy, and consumer-facing chatbots. The first bill, HB1139, sponsored by Reps. Junie Joseph and Sheila Lieder and Sens. Lisa Cutter and Lindsey Daugherty, prohibits health insurers from basing coverage decisions solely on AI-generated group data. It also mandates that AI systems incorporate individual medical history and clinical factors into coverage determinations, ensuring human oversight in automated decisions. A second measure, HB1195, sponsored by Reps. Gretchen Rydin and Javier Mabrey and Sens. Judy Amabile and Kyle Mullica, restricts AI use in psychotherapy by requiring clinician review of any AI-generated treatment recommendations. The bill further prohibits therapists from using AI to record or transcribe sessions without explicit patient consent and bans unlicensed individuals from offering AI-assisted mental health services. Mabrey cited data showing one in eight adolescents and one-third of adults consider AI chatbots for mental health advice, raising concerns about engagement-driven responses rather than therapeutic challenge. The third bill targets conversational AI platforms, aiming to regulate chatbots that may provide unsupervised mental health or medical advice. Lawmakers emphasize the need for human accountability, particularly for vulnerable populations like minors, where AI could exacerbate risks during mental health crises. HB1139 passed the House 47-15 and the Senate with three Republican oppositions, while HB1195 advanced unanimously in the House and 33-2 in the Senate, with two Colorado Springs Republicans dissenting. Supporters argue the bills balance AI’s efficiency with ethical safeguards, ensuring technology complements—not replaces—human judgment in critical care. Critics, however, warn the regulations may stifle innovation or create compliance burdens for insurers and therapists. Governor Jared Polis now faces the challenge of signing these measures into law before the session adjourns, setting a precedent for AI governance in health care nationwide.