Ep 40: When States Step Up for Safety with Delegate Lily Qi

In this episode, Rachel Harrison speaks with Maryland State Delegate Lily Qi, who represents District 15 in Montgomery County and has served in the Maryland General Assembly since 2019. Delegate Qi sits on the Economic Matters Committee, where her work focuses on consumer protection, business regulation, and positioning Maryland for the industries of the future. This conversation centers on Maryland House Bill 883, legislation she championed to require basic disclosure when consumers interact with AI systems in behavioral health contexts, and what it means that the bill passed the House with overwhelming bipartisan support before stalling in the Senate. Delegate Qi brings both urgency and pragmatism to the conversation, grounding the policy debate in a stark reality: there is currently nothing in Maryland law preventing a chatbot from manipulating a vulnerable person toward self-harm.   The second half of the conversation widens the lens to explore how states are increasingly stepping into the AI regulation space in the absence of consistent federal standards, and what mental health professionals and advocates can do right now to move this work forward. Delegate Qi offers a clear-eyed roadmap for effective advocacy, from building coalitions across consumer groups, tech communities, and behavioral health professionals, to reaching legislators early and consistently rather than showing up only at hearings. She closes with a direct call to action for mental health professionals: reach out to your legislators, share your expertise, and show up in Annapolis when the next session begins.   RESOURCES MENTIONED   Articles Referenced:   Maryland House Bill 883 - AI in Behavioral Health Contexts: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/hb0883?ys=2026rs   State Mental Health Investments - National Governors Association: https://www.nga.org/news/commentary/state-mental-health-investments/   Tennessee Bans AI Therapy Bots as Chatbot Safety Laws Surge - AI2: https://ai2.work/blog/tennessee-bans-ai-therapy-bots-as-chatbot-safety-laws-surge   Connect with Delegate Lily Qi:   Website: https://www.lilyqi.com/ Email: [email protected] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lilyqimaryland/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lily-qi-604a9018/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lilyqimaryland   Connect with The Mental Health Evolution:   Website: https://www.traumaspecialiststraining.com/mental-health-evolution-podcast Instagram: /thementalhealthevolution/ LinkedIn: /the-mental-health-evolution Facebook: /TheMentalHealthEvolution   Music Credit: Music by Zach Harrison