Maine — Limits on AI in Mental/Behavioral Health Practice; Patient Consent for AI Recording
Maine · Maine 2026 mental-health AI Act (signed April 8, 2026)
Maine enacted a law (signed April 8, 2026) that lets licensed mental health professionals use AI only for administrative and limited supplementary tasks, while barring them from using AI to make therapeutic communications or treatment decisions or to independently interact with patients. Professionals must also get a patient's consent before using ambient-listening or other AI-powered recording tools.
Technical detail
Maine's 2026 mental-health AI law permits licensed mental health professionals to use AI solely for administrative functions and limited supplementary purposes, expressly barring use of AI for therapeutic communications, treatment decisions, or independent patient interaction, and requiring patient consent before using ambient-listening or other AI recording tools. Signed April 8, 2026.
Who is protected: Maine mental/behavioral health patients
Who must comply: Licensed mental health professionals in Maine
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Maine |
|---|---|
| Level | State |
| Status | Enacted (not yet in effect) |
| Protection strength | Moderate protection |
| Enacted | 2026-04-08 |
| Citation | Maine 2026 mental-health AI Act (signed April 8, 2026) |
| Enforced by | Maine Department of Professional and Financial Regulation (licensing boards) |
| Topics | healthcare AI · automated decision-making · consumer protection |
| Last verified | 2026-06-29 |
| Official source | States Continue Efforts to Regulate AI in Healthcare: A Review of Legislation Passed in 2026 — Holland & Knight ↗ |
More AI rules in Maine
- Maine Data Center Moratorium (vetoed) · Vetoed
- ME AI Private Images Law · In effect
- Maine AI Chatbot Disclosure Law · In effect
- Maine AI-in-Therapy Law (licensed pros only) · Enacted (not yet in effect)
- Maine LD 61 (employer surveillance disclosure & prohibition) · Enacted (not yet 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- Colorado AI Act (repealed) · Repealed / replaced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See something wrong or out of date?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.