United States of America: Bill on health care professions, deceptive terms or letters, and artificial intelligence (AB 489) enters into force

On 1 January 2026, Assembly Bill 489 on health care professions, deceptive terms or letters, and artificial intelligence enters into force in the State of California, following its enactment on 11 October 2025. As the law does not specify a distinct operative date, its commencement is governed by Section 9600(a) of the Government Code, which provides that statutes enacted during a regular session take effect on the first day of January of the following year. The law establishes Chapter 15.5 (commencing with Section 4999.8) to Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code, cited as “Health Advice From Artificial Intelligence”, defining “artificial intelligence” and “generative artificial intelligence” by reference to Sections 11546.45.5 and 11549.64 of the Government Code, respectively. It prohibits entities developing or deploying artificial intelligence or generative artificial intelligence technologies from using specified terms, letters, or phrases implying professional licensure in health care, or from suggesting that advice, reports, or assessments are issued by a licensed natural person, with each instance treated as a separate violation under Section 125.5 of the Business and Professions Code, and specifies that no reimbursement is required under Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.