An Ohio lawmaker is proposing a bill to ban marriage between humans and artificial intelligence
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An Ohio lawmaker is targeting artificial intelligence in a way few expected. Rep. Thaddeus Clagett has introduced House Bill 469, which would make it illegal for artificial intelligence systems to be treated like humans. The proposal would formally classify them as “non-sensitive entities,” cutting off any path toward legal personhood.
And yes, it also includes a ban on marrying AI.
The measure aims to keep humans in strong control over machines, said Claggett, a Republican from Licking County and chairman of the House Technology and Innovation Committee. When AI systems start behaving like humans, he says, the law must draw a clear line between person and program.
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What would Ohio’s AI marriage ban do?
Under the proposed legislation, AI systems would not be able to own real estate, manage bank accounts or serve as company executives. They will not have the same rights or responsibilities as people. The draft law also makes any marriage between a human and artificial intelligence, or between two artificial intelligence systems, legally impossible.
Ohio lawmakers are considering a bill that would prohibit recognizing artificial intelligence as a person. (Cyberguy.com)
Claggett thinks the worry isn’t about robot weddings happening anytime soon. Instead, he wants to prevent AI from assuming a spouse’s legal powers, such as obtaining power of attorney or making financial and medical decisions for someone else.
The bill also states that if AI causes harm, human owners or developers will be liable. This means that no one can blame the chatbot or their automated system for errors or damages. The responsibility lies with the humans who built, trained, or used the system.
Why is Ohio taking action on AI personhood?
The timing of the bill is not random. Artificial Intelligence is rapidly spreading across almost every industry. Systems now write reports, create artwork, and analyze complex data at lightning speed. Ohio has even begun requiring schools to establish rules for using AI in classrooms. Major data centers to power the state’s artificial intelligence infrastructure are being built.
At the same time, artificial intelligence is becoming more personal. A survey conducted by Florida-based marketing firm Fractl found that 22% of users said they had made emotional connections with a chatbot. Three percent even considered someone as a romantic partner. Another 16% said they wonder whether the AI they are talking to is conscious.
This kind of emotional connection raises red flags for lawmakers. If people start to believe that AI has feelings or intentions, it blurs the boundaries between human experience and digital simulation.
Ohio lawmakers are considering a bill that would prohibit recognizing artificial intelligence as a person. (Istock)
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The bigger picture: keeping humans in control
Claggett said the bill is about protecting human agency. He believes that as AI grows smarter and more capable, it should never replace the human decision maker.
“We see AI as having tremendous potential as a tool, but it also has tremendous potential to cause harm,” Claggett told CyberGuy. “We want to prevent that by creating guardrails and a legal framework before these developments get beyond regulatory rules and bad actors start exploiting legal loopholes. We want humans to be held accountable for any misconduct, and for there to be no doubt as to whether “The legal status of artificial intelligence, no matter how complex, is in Ohio law.”
The proposed law would also reinforce the fact that artificial intelligence cannot make choices that affect human lives without oversight.
If passed, it would ensure that no machine could act independently in matters of marriage, property, or corporate leadership. Supporters see the bill as a safeguard for society, arguing that technology should never have the same legal status as humans.
But critics say the proposal may be a solution to a problem that doesn’t yet exist. They warn that overly broad restrictions could slow AI research and innovation in Ohio.
However, even skeptics acknowledge that the conversation is necessary. Artificial intelligence is evolving faster than most laws can keep up, and questions of rights, ownership, and accountability are becoming harder to ignore.
What are other countries doing about AI personality?
Ohio is not alone in its pushback against AI personhood. In Utah, lawmakers passed HB 249, the Utah Legal Personhood Amendments, which prohibits courts and government agencies from recognizing the legal personhood of non-human entities, including artificial intelligence. The law also prohibits recognition of the personality of entities such as bodies of water, land and plants.
In Missouri, lawmakers have introduced HB 1462, the “AI Non-Sentience and Liability Act,” which would officially declare AI systems unconscious and bar them from gaining legal status, marriage rights, corporate roles, or property ownership.
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In Idaho, HB 720 (2022) includes language that preserves the legal and personhood rights of humans, effectively barring claims of personhood by non-humans, including artificial intelligence.
These measures reflect a broader trend among state governments. Many lawmakers are trying to advance the development of artificial intelligence by setting clear legal limits before the technology becomes more advanced.
Taken together, these proposals show that Ohio’s efforts are part of a larger national movement to define where technology ends and legal personhood begins.
House Bill 469 aims to keep humans in control as artificial intelligence becomes more realistic. (Xping)
What does this mean for you?
If you live in Ohio, House Bill 469 may affect how you use and interact with artificial intelligence. It sets clear boundaries that make AI a tool rather than a person. By keeping decision-making and responsibility in human hands, the law aims to avoid confusion about who bears responsibility when technology fails. If an AI system causes harm or error, the responsibility falls on the humans who designed or deployed it.
For businesses in Ohio, this proposal could lead to real changes in daily operations. Companies that rely on AI to handle customer support, financial decisions, or creative projects may need to review how much authority those systems have. It may also require stricter policies to ensure that important decisions related to money, health, or the law are always supervised by a human. Lawmakers want to keep people firmly responsible for choices that affect others.
For everyday users, the message is clear and straightforward. AI can be useful, but it cannot replace human relationships or legal rights. This bill asserts that no matter how human-like technology looks, it cannot form real emotional or legal bonds with people. Conversations with chatbots may seem personal, but they are still simulations created through data and programming.
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For people outside Ohio, this proposal could hint at what comes next. Other states are closely watching how the bill develops, and some may adopt similar laws. If passed, it could serve as a national model for setting the legal boundaries of artificial intelligence. What happens in Ohio may shape how courts, companies and individuals across the country decide to manage their engagement with artificial intelligence in the coming years.
In the end, this debate is not limited to one country. It raises an important question about how society should balance the power of innovation with the need to protect human control.
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Key takeaways for Kurt
Ohio House Bill 469 is bold, controversial, and timely. It challenges us to define the limits of what technology should be allowed to do. Clagett’s proposal is not about stopping innovation. It is about ensuring that as machines become more powerful, humans remain responsible for the choices that shape society. The debate is not over yet. Some see this as a necessary precaution, while others believe it downplays what AI can contribute. But one thing is certain: Ohio State has shed light on one of the biggest questions of our time.
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