Illinois Ban on AI Therapy (WOPR Act)

Illinois enacted HB 1806 as Public Act 104-0054, titled the Wellness and Oversight for Psychological Resources Act. The law took effect August 1, 2025 and is codified at 225 ILCS 155. Its stated purpose is to safeguard people seeking therapy or psychotherapy by ensuring services are delivered by qualified, licensed or certified professionals, while respecting choice and community-based and faith-based support. Section 20 prohibits an individual, corporation or entity from providing, advertising or offering therapy or psychotherapy to the public in Illinois unless the services are conducted by a licensed professional. The prohibition expressly includes internet-based AI. A licensed professional may use AI only within the Act’s permitted uses and remains fully responsible for interactions, outputs and data use. The Act bars the professional from allowing AI to make independent therapeutic decisions, directly interact with clients in therapeutic communication, generate therapeutic recommendations or treatment plans without the professional’s review and approval, or detect emotions or mental states. The Act distinguishes administrative support, such as scheduling, reminders and billing, from supplementary support in therapy. Where a session is recorded or transcribed for AI-assisted supplementary support, the client or authorized representative must receive written information that AI will be used and its specific purpose, then consent. The statute includes exceptions and limits, so a precise workflow analysis matters. The popular shorthand “Illinois banned AI therapy” captures the restriction on AI independently offering therapy, but can obscure permitted administrative assistance and tightly bounded professional use. This is a state professional-practice law, not a general AI product licensing act.