Bill > H0816

This bill aims to protect individuals seeking mental health services in Vermont by ensuring that qualified mental health professionals, not artificial intelligence (AI), are responsible for therapeutic judgment, clinical decision-making, and communication, while also respecting patient choice in services and allowing AI for administrative tasks. The bill defines "artificial intelligence" as a machine-based system capable of perceiving, processing, and acting on data to imitate intelligent behavior, including "generative artificial intelligence" which creates content like text or images. It prohibits offering or advertising mental health services where AI is presented as providing therapeutic judgment, diagnosis, treatment, or communication, though AI can be used for administrative, operational, documentation, or quality-improvement functions if the mental health professional maintains clinical responsibility and obtains patient consent for recording or transcribing identifiable therapeutic communications. Violations of these provisions will be treated under the Consumer Protection Act, and the bill clarifies that these regulations do not affect other existing legal remedies.

Health and Social Services

https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2026/H.816