An Ohio lawmaker introduced a bill to ban marriages between humans and AI

A Ohio Lawmaker Artificial intelligence is getting attention that is less than expected. Rep. Thaddeus Claggett has introduced House Bill 469, which would make it illegal to treat AI systems like people. The proposal would officially label them as “non-sentient entities”, cutting off any path to legal personhood.

And yes, that also includes a ban on marrying an AI.

Clagett, a Licking County Republican and chairman of the House Technology and Innovation Committee, said the measure is intended to put humans firmly in control of machines. He says that as AI systems begin to act like humans, the law must draw a clear line between individuals and programs.

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What Ohio’s AI marriage ban will do

internal Proposed ActAn AI system will not be able to own property, manage bank accounts, or act as an officer of a company. They will not have the same rights or responsibilities as people. The bill makes any marriage between a human and an AI, or two AI systems, legally impossible.

Ohio lawmakers consider bill to ban AI from identifying as individuals. (Cyberguy.com)

Claggett believes the worry is that robot weddings won’t happen anytime soon. Instead, he wants to prevent AI from taking over a spouse’s legal rights, such as holding a power of attorney or making financial and medical decisions for someone else.

The bill also states that if AI causes damage, the human owner or developer will be liable. This means a person cannot blame their chatbot or automated system for mistakes or losses. Responsibility remains with those who created, trained or used the system.

Why Ohio is cracking down on AI personality

The timing of the bill is not random. AI is spreading rapidly In almost every industry. Systems now write reports, create artifacts, and analyze complex data at lightning speed. Ohio has also begun requiring schools to create rules for using AI in classrooms. And major data centers are being built in the state to power the AI ​​infrastructure.

At the same time, AI is becoming more personal. A survey by Florida-based marketing firm Fractal found that 22 percent of users have formed an emotional connection with a chatbot. Three percent considered one as a romantic partner. Another 16 percent said they wondered if the AI ​​they were talking to was sentient.

That kind of emotional attachment raises red flags for lawmakers. If people begin to believe that AI has emotion or purpose, it blurs the boundaries between human experience and digital simulation.

Ohio lawmakers consider bill to ban AI from identifying as individuals. (iStock)

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The Big Picture: Keeping Humans in Control

Claggett said the bill is about protecting human agency. He believes that as AI becomes smarter and more capable, it should not replace the human decision maker.

Claggett told CyberGuy, “We see AI as having tremendous potential as a tool, but also tremendous potential to cause harm. We want to prevent these developments by establishing guardrails and legal frameworks before they move forward in regulation and bad actors begin to exploit legal loopholes. We think humans should be held accountable for any abuses, and AI should be no question in any position. State-of-the-art, in Ohio law.”

The proposed law would also reinforce that AI cannot make choices that affect human life without supervision.

If passed, it would ensure that no machine can act independently in matters of marriage, property or corporate leadership. Supporters see the bill as a protection for society, arguing that technology should never gain the same legal footing as people.

However, critics say the proposal could be a solution to a problem that doesn’t yet exist. They warn that overly broad restrictions in Ohio could stifle AI research and innovation.

Still, even skeptics admit that conversation is necessary. AI is evolving faster than most laws can keep up, and questions of rights, ownership and responsibility are becoming harder to ignore.

What other states are doing about AI personality

Ohio is not alone in pushing back against AI personhood. In Utah, lawmakers passed HB 249, Utah Legal Personhood Amendments, which prohibits courts and government agencies from recognizing legal personhood for non-human entities, including AI. The law also prohibits recognition of subjectivity for entities such as water, land and vegetation.

In Missouri, legislators introduced HB 1462, the “AI Non-Sentence and Responsibility Act,” which would formally declare AI systems non-sentient and bar them from obtaining legal status, marriage rights, corporate roles or property ownership.

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In Idaho, HB 720 (2022) includes language that preserves legal rights and personhood for humans, effectively barring claims of personhood by nonhumans, including AI.

These measures reflect a broader trend among state governments. Many legislators are trying to get ahead of the development of AI by setting clear legal boundaries 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 put humans in control as AI becomes more lifelike. (XPENG)

What does this mean for you?

If you live in Ohio, House Bill 469 could impact how you use and interact with artificial intelligence. It sets clear boundaries that keep AI as a tool rather than a person. By placing decision-making and responsibility in human hands, the law aims to avoid confusion about who is responsible if technology fails. If an AI system causes harm or makes a mistake, responsibility rests with the humans who designed or deployed it.

For Ohio businesses, this proposal could make real changes to day-to-day 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. Strict policies may also be required to ensure that humans are always in control of important decisions involving money, health or law. Lawmakers want to hold people firmly in charge of choices that affect others.

For everyday users, the message is straightforward. AI can be helpful, but it cannot replace human relationships or legal rights. The bill reinforces that no matter how human-like technology may appear, it cannot form real emotional or legal bonds with people. Conversations with chatbots may seem personal, but they remain simulations created by data and programming.

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For those outside of Ohio, this proposal may point to what’s to come. Other states are closely watching how the bill develops and may adopt similar laws. If it passes, it could set a national precedent for defining the legal limits of artificial intelligence. What happens in Ohio could shape how courts, businesses and individuals across the country decide to manage their connections to AI in the years to come.

After all, this debate is not limited to one state. A key question is how society should balance the power of innovation with the need to protect human control.

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Kurt’s highlights

Ohio’s House Bill 469 is bold, controversial and timely. It challenges us to define the limits of what technology is allowed to do. Claggett’s proposal isn’t about stopping innovation. As machines become more capable, it is to ensure that humans remain responsible for the choices that shape society. The debate is far from over. Some see this as a necessary safeguard, while others think it underestimates what AI can contribute. But one thing is certain: Ohio has shed light on one of the biggest questions of our time.

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How far should the law go in defining what AI can never be? Let us know by writing here Cyberguy.com

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