AI Advisory
Washington’s New AI Laws Target Deepfakes and Protect Minors
Washington enacted HB 1170, requiring watermarks on AI-modified content from large providers, and HB 2225, mandating chatbot disclosure and added protections for minors.
Legal Brief
The filing
Washington HB 1170 and HB 2225, signed by Gov. Bob Ferguson, March 2026.
What happened
Washington Governor Bob Ferguson signed two AI bills in March 2026. HB 1170 targets AI-generated misinformation, requiring large AI companies (over one million monthly subscribers) to embed watermarks or metadata in substantially AI-modified content. HB 2225 sets guardrails for AI companion chatbots like ChatGPT and Claude, requiring them to disclose their non-human nature at the start of a conversation and every three hours, hourly for minors, plus bans on sexually explicit content, manipulative engagement tactics, and self-harm promotion, with protocols to connect at-risk users to mental health resources.
Why it matters
Even though the rules apply only to large providers, they show state legislatures are increasingly willing to impose concrete technical compliance obligations on AI operations.
JetStream’s take
Watermarking and disclosure mandates are becoming table stakes, and the patchwork of state rules is exactly the compliance complexity enterprises need to map now.
Source
HB 2225 – 2025-26
HB 1170 – 2025-26
Washington passes new AI laws to crack down on misinformation, protect minors (KUOW)
