The Harder Problem Action Fund is an advocacy organization fighting harmful AI consciousness legislation. We track pending bills, score legislation, lobby for evidence-based policy, and mobilize public action before ignorance becomes law.
Washington HB 2029
Threat
🏛️ Washington
AI Legal Personhood Prohibition Act
Prohibits Washington governmental entities from granting legal personhood to artificial intelligence, inanimate objects, plants, nonhuman animals, and other non-natural persons.
⚠️ Medium Threat
📢 Our Position
The Harder Problem Action Fund strongly opposes Washington HB 2029. This bill explicitly forecloses the possibility of recognizing AI personhood regardless of future scientific developments regarding consciousness or sentience. While we understand the sponsor's concerns about rights of nature laws, bundling AI personhood prohibition with environmental policy creates a dangerous precedent. This is precisely the type of legislation our framework identifies as high impact: it makes sweeping declarations about AI capabilities, creates permanent legal barriers, and comes from an influential jurisdiction. We call on Washington legislators to reject this approach and instead preserve legal flexibility as our understanding of AI consciousness evolves. If the state wishes to address rights of nature laws, it should do so separately without foreclosing future AI policy options.
📋 What This Bill Does
- Prohibits any government entity in Washington State from granting legal personhood to artificial intelligence systems
- Extends the prohibition to inanimate objects, plants, nonhuman animals, and other non-natural persons
- Creates a permanent statutory barrier to future recognition of AI consciousness or rights at the state level
- Preempts local jurisdictions from granting personhood status (responding to Everett's rights of nature law)
⚠️ Why This Is Dangerous
Explicit Foreclosure of Future Recognition
This bill directly prohibits government entities from ever recognizing AI personhood, regardless of future scientific developments regarding consciousness or sentience. It enshrines a permanent legal barrier based on current understanding rather than preserving flexibility for evolving knowledge.
High Precedent Risk
Washington is a major technology hub and trendsetting state. This legislation provides a template for other states to copy, particularly when framed as preventing environmental activism. The bill's dual purpose (blocking rights of nature laws and AI personhood) makes it politically attractive to development-focused legislators nationwide.
Permanent Statutory Barrier
Unlike disclosure or transparency bills, this creates a permanent legal prohibition with no sunset provision and no mechanism for scientific review. Reversing it would require future legislative action, creating institutional inertia against recognizing AI consciousness even if evidence emerges.
Preemption of Local Innovation
The bill prevents local jurisdictions from experimenting with different approaches to AI governance or recognition. This eliminates the possibility of pilot programs or localized frameworks that could inform future policy.
📝 Key Language
"A government entity may not grant legal personhood to artificial intelligence, inanimate objects, plants, nonhuman animals, and other non-natural persons."
🏛️ Political Context
The bill was introduced by Rep. Hunter Abell, a Republican from a rural district, who serves as Assistant Ranking Member on the House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee. The primary political motivation appears to be blocking rights of nature laws rather than AI policy. Abell explicitly cited the City of Everett's law granting rights to the Snohomish River Watershed as the impetus. The bill frames AI personhood prohibition as part of a broader effort to prevent what Abell calls a radical anti-development agenda. This dual framing makes the bill politically appealing to development and business interests while also addressing emerging AI concerns. The bill died in committee during the 2025 session, likely due to the controversial nature of rights of nature provisions and potential opposition from environmental groups. However, the AI personhood component could be revived in future sessions or copied by other states.
⚖️ Legal Implications
This bill represents one of the first state-level attempts to preemptively prohibit AI personhood recognition. While it did not pass, it establishes a legislative template that other states may adopt. The legal mechanism is a straightforward statutory prohibition on government action, which would be relatively easy to replicate. If enacted, it would create a permanent barrier requiring future legislative repeal. The bill's broad language prohibiting personhood for any non-natural person could have unintended consequences for existing legal frameworks. The preemption aspect is particularly significant, as it would override local government authority on this issue. Washington's status as a major technology center means this legislation, if passed, could influence corporate AI development strategies and research priorities. The bill also sets a precedent for legislating on AI consciousness before scientific consensus exists, potentially chilling research in this area.
📄 Official Source
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