Ohio bill: AI is not a legal person, cannot marry; its owners are liable for harm

A bill before the Ohio House of Representatives would prohibit artificial intelligence from ever obtaining legal personhood, thus limiting such technology from marriage, possession of property or legal authority.

Rep. Thaddeus Claggett, R-Licking County, chair of the House Technology and Innovation Committee, introduced H.B. 469 to the House floor Sept. 23. The bill declares any artificial intelligence systems are “nonsentient” and further states AI cannot “be considered to possess consciousness, self-awareness, or similar traits of living beings.”

In response to a June draft of the Big Beautiful Bill containing limits on state regulation of AI, Claggett posted a statement arguing for the right and necessity for states to protect citizens from AI. The U.S. Senate eventually removed the AI clause from the bill.

“While this emerging technology has great benefits, it also possesses great capacity for harm to our citizens,” Claggett said in his statement. “We must maintain our prerogative to protect our people.” 

The Ohio bill forbids any person from entering a “marriage or union” with an AI bot and forbids the intermarrying of AI technology.  

Recently, Vantage Point Counseling Services reported more than 28% of Americans admit to having “at least one intimate or romantic relationship with an AI.” These relationships included “sexy casual chats,” an “unserious but committed relationship” or “a committed relationship.”  

“No AI system shall be recognized as a spouse, domestic partner, or hold any personal legal status analogous to marriage or union with a human or another AI system,” the bill reads. “Any purported attempt to marry or create a personal union with an AI system is void and has no legal effect.” 

The bill also prohibits AI technology from holding an authoritative role such as a director or manager, saying any appointment “to such a role is void and has no legal effect.” 

“We have worked to understand the root cause of the damage that AI technology can do, and it boils down to this: just as military technology must have a human master, so AI must not be permitted to grow out of human control, or it will naturally do what unrestrained humans do: break the law and harm others,” Claggett said in a post on X. 

In addition to forbidding AI from holding legal title over any property, including real estate, intellectual property or digital assets, the legislation holds the owners of AI responsible for potential harm. 

“Owners shall maintain proper oversight and control measures over any AI system whose outputs or recommendations could reasonably be expected to impact human welfare, property, or public safety,” the bill reads. 

If a proven design defect causes harm or malfunction, then the technology manufacturers will be held liable, the bill says. 

The bill was referred to a committee on Oct. 1 and must pass both the state House and the Senate to be signed as law by the governor.  

“You must keep a leash on your beast,” Claggett said in his post on X. “If AI systems break the law, then there must be clear human accountability for that lawlessness.”