California AB 489 (2025) — Prohibition on AI Implying Licensed Health Care Status
California · Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code 4999.9 (AB 489, 2025)
This law stops AI technology from pretending to be a licensed health care provider. AI systems and the companies behind them cannot use titles, letters, or terms that falsely suggest the AI holds a health care license or that its services come from a licensed human professional. It extends an existing ban on impersonating licensed health professionals so that it clearly covers AI providers.
Technical detail
AB 489 adds Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code 4999.9, extending prohibitions on the unauthorized use of titles/terms implying a health care license or licensed-professional care to developers and deployers of AI technology, so AI-generated communications may not falsely indicate licensure.
Who is protected: Patients and consumers who might be misled into believing AI-generated health communications come from a licensed human professional.
Who must comply: Developers and deployers of AI technology that generates health-related communications or could imply licensed status.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | California |
|---|---|
| Level | State |
| Status | In effect |
| Protection strength | Limited protection |
| Effective date | 2026-01-01 |
| Enacted | 2025-10-11 |
| Citation | Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code 4999.9 (AB 489, 2025) |
| Enforced by | The relevant California health care licensing boards (under the Department of Consumer Affairs). |
| Penalties | Enforced by the applicable health care licensing boards using their existing authority over unlawful use of professional titles and unlicensed practice. |
| Topics | healthcare AI · consumer protection |
| Last verified | 2026-06-16 |
| Official source | AB-489 Health care: artificial intelligence ↗ |
More AI rules in California
- CCPA/CPRA + ADMT Regulations · In effect
- AB 2013 (Training Data Transparency) · In effect
- SB 942 (AI Transparency Act) · Enacted (not yet in effect)
- SB 53 (Frontier AI Safety) · In effect
- AB 2839 (Election Deepfakes) · Blocked / in litigation
- AB 602 (Deepfake Intimate Images) · In effect
Related healthcare AI rules elsewhere
- ACA § 1557 (AI in patient care) · In effect
- FDA AI/ML SaMD Action Plan · In effect
- FDA GMLP Principles · In effect
- Colorado AI Act (repealed) · Repealed / replaced
- SB 26-189 (Colorado ADMT Law) · Enacted (not yet in effect)
- AI Companion Safeguards Law · In effect
See something wrong or out of date? Submit a correction — every entry must carry a verifiable official source.