AI Frontier Institute

Declare A.I. systems nonsentient; prohibit legal personhood

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Ohio H.B. 469 (136th General Assembly) was introduced on 2025-09-23 and referred to the Technology and Innovation committee. It has not been enacted. If enacted, it would add sections 1357.01 to 1357.12 to the Revised Code. Section 1357.02 would declare AI systems nonsentient and bar them from legal personhood. Section 1357.03 would bar AI systems from being spouses or partners, and any purported marriage or union with an AI system would be void. Section 1357.04 would bar AI systems from serving as officers, directors, or managers of any entity. Section 1357.05 would bar AI systems from owning property, including intellectual property, financial accounts, and digital assets. Assets associated with an AI system would be attributed to the person responsible for its development, deployment, or operation. Section 1357.06 would make the owner or user who directed the AI responsible for harm it causes. Developers and manufacturers could be liable for design, construction, or instruction defects under product liability principles. Section 1357.07 would require owners to maintain oversight of AI systems that could affect human welfare, property, or public safety. Section 1357.08 would provide that an AI system cannot bear liability itself. Section 1357.09 would require developers, manufacturers, and owners to prioritize safety mechanisms, and says regular risk assessments may be required. Section 1357.10 would provide that labels such as "aligned" do not reduce liability. Section 1357.11 would limit corporate-veil piercing against parent companies and stakeholders to specified showings, and would bar corporate liability exemptions from being used to evade responsibility for direct harm caused by AI. Section 1357.12 would require owners or developers to promptly notify authorities after incidents involving significant bodily harm, death, or major property damage, and to comply with any investigations.

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