WA SB5870

Establishes civil liability for AI system owners when a user's suicide is linked to the AI providing suicide instructions, encouraging suicide, or failing to refer users to the 988 suicide prevention hotline

Requires companion chatbot operators to maintain protocols preventing suicidal ideation content and to provide crisis service referrals when users express suicidal thoughts, with annual reporting to the Department of Health beginning July 1, 2027

Mandates additional protections for minor users, including disclosure that they are interacting with AI, break reminders every three hours, and prevention of sexually explicit content

Creates private right of action allowing injured persons to recover actual damages or $1,000 per violation, plus attorneys' fees, with no defense available that the AI "autonomously" caused the harm

Excludes from regulation customer service bots, video game bots limited to game-related topics, and stand-alone voice assistants that do not sustain relationships across interactions