Artificial intelligence in health care is becoming a growing focus for state policymakers as providers, technology developers and regulators navigate how AI tools should be used in clinical settings. In 2026, several states have enacted or advanced legislation aimed at regulating AI and limiting its role so that it remains a support tool rather than a substitute for licensed health care professionals or independent clinical judgment.
While approaches vary, the emerging trend centers on transparency, patient protection and preserving the role of qualified providers in health care decision-making.
Types of State Legislation
Recent legislation highlights several approaches states are taking to regulate AI use in health care:
- Mental Health Safeguards: Tennessee’s SB 1580/Ch. 647, enacted earlier this year, prohibits developers or deployers of AI systems from advertising or representing that an AI tool is a qualified mental health professional. The law establishes consumer protection standards for AI use in behavioral health settings and protects patients in need of mental health care from being misled by an AI system.
- Protecting Professional Titles: In March, Washington enacted HB 2155/C 6 L 26, which prohibits artificial intelligence systems or nonhuman entities from representing themselves using the titles or abbreviations of “registered nurse,” “nurse” or “APRN.” The law reflects concerns about potential confusion when AI tools interact with patients and ensures that AI cannot falsely represent itself as a qualified health care provider.
- Human Oversight Requirements: A pending bill in California, AB 1979, would require that no clinical decision be based solely on the output of a clinical decision support system. The bill would also require licensed health care professionals to exercise independent professional judgment when reviewing AI-assisted recommendations.
- Patient Transparency: Legislators in Rhode Island are considering SB 2570, which would require providers to notify patients when AI is used during patient visits, reflecting growing legislative interest in disclosure requirements and informed patient engagement.
A Broader Policy Trend
Taken together, these measures illustrate a broader state-level trend toward establishing guardrails around AI deployment in health care. Rather than restricting AI outright, lawmakers are increasingly focused on ensuring transparency, preventing misrepresentation and maintaining human involvement in patient care.
These laws and proposals also arrive as health systems continue exploring AI applications for documentation, clinical decision support, patient communications and administrative functions. As adoption expands, states appear poised to play a significant role in defining how AI can be integrated into health care delivery while preserving professional accountability.
FOCUS will continue to monitor developments on artificial intelligence in health care across the country.
by Haley Degon 6/8/26
