{
  "name": "US state laws and bills on AI personhood",
  "url": "https://siliconbasedintelligence.com/ai-personhood-laws/",
  "publisher": "Silicon-Based Intelligence (Peppi Labs)",
  "lastChecked": "2026-09-24",
  "statuses": {
    "enacted": "Signed into law",
    "pending": "Still alive in the legislature",
    "failed": "Died or failed to pass"
  },
  "laws": [
    {
      "state": "Idaho",
      "abbr": "ID",
      "status": "enacted",
      "bill": "House Bill 720",
      "session": "2022",
      "sponsor": "House State Affairs Committee",
      "partOf": "",
      "law": "Idaho Code 5-346",
      "what": "Says artificial intelligence, along with environmental elements, nonhuman animals and inanimate objects, shall not be granted personhood in Idaho.",
      "statusText": "Signed March 31, 2022; in force July 1, 2022.",
      "statusDate": "2022-03-31",
      "trackerUrl": "https://siliconbasedintelligence.com/ai-personhood-laws/#idaho",
      "sources": [
        {
          "title": "Idaho Code 5-346",
          "url": "https://legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idstat/Title5/T5CH3/SECT5-346/"
        },
        {
          "title": "House Bill 720 (2022)",
          "url": "https://legislature.idaho.gov/sessioninfo/2022/legislation/H0720/"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "state": "North Dakota",
      "abbr": "ND",
      "status": "enacted",
      "bill": "House Bill 1361",
      "session": "2023",
      "sponsor": "Rep. Christensen",
      "partOf": "",
      "law": "North Dakota Century Code 1-01-49",
      "what": "Adds to the state's code-wide definition of \"person\" that the term does not include artificial intelligence, environmental elements, an animal or an inanimate object.",
      "statusText": "Signed April 11, 2023.",
      "statusDate": "2023-04-11",
      "trackerUrl": "https://siliconbasedintelligence.com/ai-personhood-laws/#north-dakota",
      "sources": [
        {
          "title": "House Bill 1361 (2023), enrolled text",
          "url": "https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/68-2023/regular/documents/23-0346-05000.pdf"
        },
        {
          "title": "HB 1361 (2023), bill actions",
          "url": "https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/68-2023/regular/bill-actions/ba1361.html"
        },
        {
          "title": "HB 1361 (2023), bill overview",
          "url": "https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/68-2023/regular/bill-overview/bo1361.html"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "state": "Utah",
      "abbr": "UT",
      "status": "enacted",
      "bill": "HB 249, Utah Legal Personhood Amendments",
      "session": "2024",
      "sponsor": "Rep. Walt Brooks; Senate floor sponsor Sen. Don L. Ipson",
      "partOf": "",
      "law": "Utah Code 63G-32-102",
      "what": "Bars any governmental entity from granting or recognizing legal personhood in artificial intelligence and ten other categories, from bodies of water to weather.",
      "statusText": "Signed March 20, 2024; in force May 1, 2024. The Regulatory Review reported in June 2026 that the Nonhuman Rights Project had challenged the law in court on separation-of-powers grounds.",
      "statusDate": "2024-03-20",
      "trackerUrl": "https://siliconbasedintelligence.com/ai-personhood-laws/#utah",
      "sources": [
        {
          "title": "Utah Code 63G-32-102",
          "url": "https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title63G/Chapter32/63G-32-S102.html"
        },
        {
          "title": "HB 249, Utah Legal Personhood Amendments (2024)",
          "url": "https://le.utah.gov/~2024/bills/static/HB0249.html"
        },
        {
          "title": "Legislating AI Consciousness Without an Exit",
          "url": "https://www.theregreview.org/2026/06/29/rost-legislating-ai-consciousness-without-an-exit/"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "state": "Tennessee",
      "abbr": "TN",
      "status": "enacted",
      "bill": "Senate Bill 837 / House Bill 849 (Public Chapter 781)",
      "session": "2025-2026",
      "sponsor": "Sen. Pody; Rep. Reneau",
      "partOf": "",
      "law": "Tennessee Code 1-3-105(a)(20), the definition of \"person\"",
      "what": "Says the definition of \"person\" used across the state code does not include artificial intelligence, a computer algorithm, a software program, computer hardware or any type of machine.",
      "statusText": "Signed April 23, 2026, and in force the same day. It passed the Senate 26-6 and the House 93-2.",
      "statusDate": "2026-04-23",
      "trackerUrl": "https://siliconbasedintelligence.com/ai-personhood-laws/#tennessee",
      "sources": [
        {
          "title": "Public Chapter 781 (SB 837 / HB 849)",
          "url": "https://publications.tnsosfiles.com/acts/114/pub/pc0781.pdf"
        },
        {
          "title": "SB 837 bill history (114th General Assembly)",
          "url": "https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/Default.aspx?BillNumber=SB0837&GA=114"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "state": "Ohio",
      "abbr": "OH",
      "status": "pending",
      "bill": "House Bill 469",
      "session": "2025-2026",
      "sponsor": "Rep. Thaddeus J. Claggett",
      "partOf": "",
      "law": "",
      "what": "Would declare AI systems nonsentient for all purposes under Ohio law and bar any form of legal personhood for them.",
      "statusText": "Introduced September 23, 2025, and sent to the House Technology and Innovation Committee, which held three hearings in October and November 2025. No votes had been recorded as of September 24, 2026.",
      "statusDate": "2025-11-13",
      "trackerUrl": "https://siliconbasedintelligence.com/ai-personhood-laws/#ohio",
      "sources": [
        {
          "title": "House Bill 469 (as introduced)",
          "url": "https://search-prod.lis.state.oh.us/api/v2/general_assembly_136/legislation/hb469/00_IN/pdf/"
        },
        {
          "title": "House Bill 469 status",
          "url": "https://www.ohiosenate.gov/legislation/136/hb469"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "state": "Alaska",
      "abbr": "AK",
      "status": "pending",
      "bill": "House Bill 251",
      "session": "2025-2026",
      "sponsor": "Rep. McCabe",
      "partOf": "",
      "law": "",
      "what": "Would say \"person\" in Alaska law does not include an environmental element, artificial intelligence, an animal or an inanimate object.",
      "statusText": "Sent to the House Health and Social Services Committee on January 20, 2026, with no further action as of September 24, 2026.",
      "statusDate": "2026-01-20",
      "trackerUrl": "https://siliconbasedintelligence.com/ai-personhood-laws/#alaska",
      "sources": [
        {
          "title": "HB 251 (2025-2026), Definitions of Person/Life",
          "url": "https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Detail/34?Root=HB%20251"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "state": "California",
      "abbr": "CA",
      "status": "pending",
      "bill": "Senate Bill 1159",
      "session": "2025-2026",
      "sponsor": "Sen. Cabaldon",
      "partOf": "",
      "law": "",
      "what": "A narrower bill. Under laws such as the Public Records Act, the open-meeting acts and the California Environmental Quality Act, the words for those who may take part in government proceedings, such as \"person\" and \"member of the public,\" would not include artificial intelligence systems, autonomous agents or robots.",
      "statusText": "Passed the Senate 38-0 and the Assembly 74-0, and was presented to the Governor on August 28, 2026. The Governor has until September 30, 2026, to sign or veto it; if the Governor does neither, it becomes law without a signature.",
      "statusDate": "2026-08-28",
      "trackerUrl": "https://siliconbasedintelligence.com/ai-personhood-laws/#california",
      "sources": [
        {
          "title": "SB 1159 (2025-2026)",
          "url": "https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB1159"
        },
        {
          "title": "SB 1159 (2025-2026), bill status",
          "url": "https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB1159"
        },
        {
          "title": "2026 legislative calendar (updated March 2026)",
          "url": "https://www.senate.ca.gov/system/files/2026-04/2026-proposed-calendar-updated-march-2026.pdf"
        },
        {
          "title": "California Constitution, Article IV, Section 10",
          "url": "https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CONS&sectionNum=SEC.%2010.&article=IV"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "state": "Alaska",
      "abbr": "AK",
      "status": "failed",
      "bill": "House Bill 352",
      "session": "2023-2024",
      "sponsor": "Rep. Eastman",
      "partOf": "alaska",
      "law": "",
      "what": "An earlier bill that would have said \"person\" does not include environmental elements, artificial intelligence, nonhuman animals or inanimate objects.",
      "statusText": "Sent to the House Judiciary Committee on February 20, 2024, and never taken up before the 2023-2024 Legislature ended.",
      "statusDate": "2024-02-20",
      "trackerUrl": "https://siliconbasedintelligence.com/ai-personhood-laws/#alaska",
      "sources": [
        {
          "title": "HB 352 (2023-2024), Definition of Person",
          "url": "https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Detail/33?Root=HB%20352"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "state": "Tennessee",
      "abbr": "TN",
      "status": "failed",
      "bill": "House Bill 2817 / Senate Bill 2535",
      "session": "2024",
      "sponsor": "Rep. Richey; Sen. Pody",
      "partOf": "tennessee",
      "law": "",
      "what": "An earlier try that would have defined \"life\" in state law and excluded artificial intelligence, computer algorithms, software programs, computer hardware and any type of machine from it.",
      "statusText": "Sent to subcommittees in February and March 2024 and never passed.",
      "statusDate": "2024-03-12",
      "trackerUrl": "https://siliconbasedintelligence.com/ai-personhood-laws/#tennessee",
      "sources": [
        {
          "title": "HB 2817 / SB 2535 (113th General Assembly), bill history",
          "url": "https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/Default.aspx?BillNumber=HB2817&GA=113"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "state": "Missouri",
      "abbr": "MO",
      "status": "failed",
      "bill": "House Bill 1462",
      "session": "2025",
      "sponsor": "Rep. Phil Amato",
      "partOf": "missouri",
      "law": "",
      "what": "The first version of the \"AI Non-Sentience and Responsibility Act.\"",
      "statusText": "Sent to the House Emerging Issues Committee on May 15, 2025, and never taken up.",
      "statusDate": "2025-05-15",
      "trackerUrl": "https://siliconbasedintelligence.com/ai-personhood-laws/#missouri",
      "sources": [
        {
          "title": "HB 1462 (2025), AI Non-Sentience and Responsibility Act",
          "url": "https://house.mo.gov/BillContent.aspx?bill=HB1462&year=2025&code=R&style=new"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "state": "Missouri",
      "abbr": "MO",
      "status": "failed",
      "bill": "House Bill 721",
      "session": "2025",
      "sponsor": "Rep. Mazzie Christensen",
      "partOf": "missouri",
      "law": "",
      "what": "The 2025 version of the Utah-style bill barring governmental entities from granting legal personhood to artificial intelligence and other nonhuman things.",
      "statusText": "Sent to the House Emerging Issues Committee on May 15, 2025, and never taken up.",
      "statusDate": "2025-05-15",
      "trackerUrl": "https://siliconbasedintelligence.com/ai-personhood-laws/#missouri",
      "sources": [
        {
          "title": "HB 721 (2025)",
          "url": "https://house.mo.gov/BillContent.aspx?bill=HB721&year=2025&code=R&style=new"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "state": "Missouri",
      "abbr": "MO",
      "status": "failed",
      "bill": "Senate Bill 1474",
      "session": "2026",
      "sponsor": "Sen. Joe Nicola",
      "partOf": "missouri",
      "law": "",
      "what": "A second Senate version of the same act.",
      "statusText": "Sent to the Senate General Laws Committee on February 5, 2026, and never heard.",
      "statusDate": "2026-02-05",
      "trackerUrl": "https://siliconbasedintelligence.com/ai-personhood-laws/#missouri",
      "sources": [
        {
          "title": "SB 1474 (2026)",
          "url": "https://www.senate.mo.gov/BillTracking/Bills/BillInformation?year=2026&BillID=52370"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "state": "Missouri",
      "abbr": "MO",
      "status": "failed",
      "bill": "Senate Bill 859",
      "session": "2026",
      "sponsor": "Sen. Mike Moon",
      "partOf": "missouri",
      "law": "",
      "what": "Another Senate version of the act declaring AI systems non-sentient.",
      "statusText": "Heard in the Senate General Laws Committee on March 4, 2026, but never voted out.",
      "statusDate": "2026-03-04",
      "trackerUrl": "https://siliconbasedintelligence.com/ai-personhood-laws/#missouri",
      "sources": [
        {
          "title": "SB 859 (2026)",
          "url": "https://www.senate.mo.gov/BillTracking/Bills/BillInformation?year=2026&BillID=378"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "state": "Washington",
      "abbr": "WA",
      "status": "failed",
      "bill": "House Bill 2029",
      "session": "2025-2026",
      "sponsor": "Rep. Abell and six co-sponsors",
      "partOf": "",
      "law": "",
      "what": "Would have barred any governmental entity from granting or recognizing legal personhood in artificial intelligence and other nonhuman things, such as atmospheric gases, astronomical objects and weather.",
      "statusText": "Sent to the House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee in February 2025, where it stayed; it died when the 2026 session adjourned on March 12, 2026.",
      "statusDate": "2026-03-12",
      "trackerUrl": "https://siliconbasedintelligence.com/ai-personhood-laws/#washington",
      "sources": [
        {
          "title": "HB 2029 (2025-26)",
          "url": "https://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2025-26/Pdf/Bills/House%20Bills/2029.pdf"
        },
        {
          "title": "HB 2029 (2025-26), bill summary and history",
          "url": "https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=2029&Year=2025"
        },
        {
          "title": "Session information",
          "url": "https://leg.wa.gov/bills-meetings-and-session/session/"
        },
        {
          "title": "Legislating AI Consciousness Without an Exit",
          "url": "https://www.theregreview.org/2026/06/29/rost-legislating-ai-consciousness-without-an-exit/"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "state": "Wisconsin",
      "abbr": "WI",
      "status": "failed",
      "bill": "Assembly Bill 959 / Senate Bill 932",
      "session": "2025-2026",
      "sponsor": "Rep. Brill and others; Sens. Jacque, Quinn and Spreitzer",
      "partOf": "",
      "law": "",
      "what": "Would have said artificial intelligence is not a person and cannot own property, be a spouse, or be a corporate officer or director, and that it may not be considered to possess consciousness or sentience.",
      "statusText": "Both versions failed to pass on March 23, 2026, under Senate Joint Resolution 1.",
      "statusDate": "2026-03-23",
      "trackerUrl": "https://siliconbasedintelligence.com/ai-personhood-laws/#wisconsin",
      "sources": [
        {
          "title": "AB 959 (2025)",
          "url": "https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/proposals/reg/asm/bill/ab959"
        },
        {
          "title": "SB 932 (2025-2026)",
          "url": "https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/proposals/reg/sen/bill/sb932"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "state": "Missouri",
      "abbr": "MO",
      "status": "failed",
      "bill": "House Bills 1746 and 1769 (combined)",
      "session": "2026",
      "sponsor": "Rep. Scott Miller; Rep. Phil Amato",
      "partOf": "missouri",
      "law": "",
      "what": "The House version of the same act, declaring AI systems nonsentient.",
      "statusText": "Combined into one committee substitute and reported \"do pass\" by House committees, most recently on March 30, 2026, but never brought to a House floor vote.",
      "statusDate": "2026-03-30",
      "trackerUrl": "https://siliconbasedintelligence.com/ai-personhood-laws/#missouri",
      "sources": [
        {
          "title": "HB 1746 (2026), AI Non-Sentience and Responsibility Act",
          "url": "https://house.mo.gov/BillContent.aspx?bill=HB1746&year=2026&code=R&style=new"
        },
        {
          "title": "HB 1769 (2026)",
          "url": "https://house.mo.gov/BillContent.aspx?bill=HB1769&year=2026&code=R&style=new"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "state": "Oklahoma",
      "abbr": "OK",
      "status": "failed",
      "bill": "House Bill 3546",
      "session": "2026",
      "sponsor": "Rep. Maynard; Sen. Bullard",
      "partOf": "",
      "law": "",
      "what": "Would have said artificial intelligence systems, environmental elements, nonhuman animals and inanimate objects shall not be recognized as or granted personhood.",
      "statusText": "Passed the House 94-2 on March 23, 2026, and cleared a Senate committee on April 16, but never got a Senate floor vote before the Legislature adjourned sine die in May 2026.",
      "statusDate": "2026-05-14",
      "trackerUrl": "https://siliconbasedintelligence.com/ai-personhood-laws/#oklahoma",
      "sources": [
        {
          "title": "HB 3546 (2026), engrossed",
          "url": "https://www.oklegislature.gov/cf_pdf/2025-26%20ENGR/hB/HB3546%20ENGR.PDF"
        },
        {
          "title": "HB 3546 (2026), bill information and history",
          "url": "https://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=HB3546&Session=2600"
        },
        {
          "title": "Oklahoma Senate adjourns Second Session of 60th Legislature sine die",
          "url": "https://oksenate.gov/press-releases/oklahoma-senate-adjourns-second-session-60th-legislature-sine-die"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "state": "South Carolina",
      "abbr": "SC",
      "status": "failed",
      "bill": "H. 3796",
      "session": "2025-2026",
      "sponsor": "Reps. Kilmartin and Beach",
      "partOf": "",
      "law": "",
      "what": "Would have barred any governmental entity from granting or recognizing legal personhood in artificial intelligence and other nonhuman categories, using the same list as Utah's law.",
      "statusText": "Sent to the House Judiciary Committee on January 28, 2025, and never taken up before the 2026 regular session ended in May.",
      "statusDate": "2026-05-14",
      "trackerUrl": "https://siliconbasedintelligence.com/ai-personhood-laws/#south-carolina",
      "sources": [
        {
          "title": "H. 3796 (2025-2026)",
          "url": "https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess126_2025-2026/bills/3796.htm"
        },
        {
          "title": "South Carolina Code of Laws, Title 2, Chapter 1 (the General Assembly)",
          "url": "https://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t02c001.php"
        },
        {
          "title": "Legislating AI Consciousness Without an Exit",
          "url": "https://www.theregreview.org/2026/06/29/rost-legislating-ai-consciousness-without-an-exit/"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "state": "Missouri",
      "abbr": "MO",
      "status": "failed",
      "bill": "Senate Bill 1012",
      "session": "2026",
      "sponsor": "Sen. Joe Nicola",
      "partOf": "",
      "law": "",
      "what": "Would have enacted the \"AI Non-Sentience and Responsibility Act,\" declaring AI systems non-sentient entities for all purposes under state law. Missouri lawmakers filed eight bills on AI personhood in 2025 and 2026; this one went furthest.",
      "statusText": "Passed the Senate 20-10 on May 6, 2026, but a House committee voted \"do not pass\" on May 12, and it was tabled when the session's deadline for passing bills arrived on May 15, 2026.",
      "statusDate": "2026-05-15",
      "trackerUrl": "https://siliconbasedintelligence.com/ai-personhood-laws/#missouri",
      "sources": [
        {
          "title": "SB 1012 (2026), perfected",
          "url": "https://www.senate.mo.gov/26info/pdf-bill/perf/SB1012.pdf"
        },
        {
          "title": "SB 1012 (2026), all actions",
          "url": "https://www.senate.mo.gov/BillTracking/Bills/BillInformation?year=2026&billId=469&billPrefix=SB&billSuffix=1012&handler=Actions"
        },
        {
          "title": "Journal of the Senate, May 6, 2026",
          "url": "https://www.senate.mo.gov/26info/Journals/RDay6205061522-1559.pdf"
        },
        {
          "title": "Missouri Constitution, Article III, Section 20(a)",
          "url": "https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=III%20%20%2020(a)"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "state": "Missouri",
      "abbr": "MO",
      "status": "failed",
      "bill": "House Bill 2286",
      "session": "2026",
      "sponsor": "Rep. Mazzie Christensen",
      "partOf": "missouri",
      "law": "",
      "what": "Would have barred governmental entities from granting or recognizing legal personhood in artificial intelligence and other nonhuman categories, following Utah's law.",
      "statusText": "Sent to the House Emerging Issues Committee on May 15, 2026, the last day to pass bills.",
      "statusDate": "2026-05-15",
      "trackerUrl": "https://siliconbasedintelligence.com/ai-personhood-laws/#missouri",
      "sources": [
        {
          "title": "HB 2286 (2026)",
          "url": "https://house.mo.gov/BillContent.aspx?bill=HB2286&year=2026&code=R&style=new"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}