Ohio Bill Would Permanently Declare All AI Systems Non-Conscious
Ohio Legislature Proposes Permanent Legal Declaration That AI Cannot Be Conscious
Bill sponsor says AI may be “more dangerous than nuclear weapons” while legislation makes irreversible claims about machine experience
PORTLAND, Ore. (December 31, 2025) — Ohio House Bill 469 would establish a permanent legal declaration that AI systems cannot possess consciousness, self-awareness, or similar traits of living beings. The bill, sponsored by Representative Thaddeus Claggett and currently advancing through the House Technology and Innovation Committee, makes a sweeping metaphysical claim that no AI system can ever achieve sentient status under Ohio law.
Key Findings
Representative Claggett, who chairs the Technology and Innovation Committee, has described AI in stark terms during his advocacy for the bill. In public statements, he said: “AI is a blessing and a curse. Some will say it’s even more dangerous than nuclear weapons because of how widespread it will be, and those who control it will control the human population.”
Claggett has also framed the legislation around legal clarity. He stated in testimony: “Our courts are not yet set up for the intrusion of fake systems that portray human activity. We have to have the courts, in a clear way, say it is the human who transgressed, not some machine that somebody hid behind.”
The bill goes further than liability frameworks. It declares as a matter of law that AI systems “shall not be considered to possess consciousness, self-awareness, or similar traits of living beings.” This language forecloses future reassessment regardless of scientific developments.
Why This Matters
HB 469 represents one of the first attempts by a state legislature to make a permanent legal determination about machine consciousness. The bill contains no sunset clause, no provision for scientific review, and no mechanism for reconsideration as technology or understanding evolves.
Claggett has invoked religious concepts in defending this position, citing what he sees as a fundamental difference between humanity and artificial intelligence. In a media interview, he illustrated his view with an analogy: “It makes no difference the ability of a donkey to speak. That does not make the donkey a human.”
The bill has attracted both support and opposition during three committee hearings held on October 21, November 4, and November 13, 2025.
Brendan Steinhauser, CEO of the Alliance for Secure AI, testified in favor of the bill on November 4. His organization praised the liability provisions that place responsibility for AI-caused harm on human developers and owners.
David Edmonson, Senior Vice President at TechNet, testified in opposition on November 13. TechNet argues the bill’s definition of AI is too broad and its liability provisions create significant uncertainty for developers.
Current Status
HB 469 was introduced on September 23, 2025 and referred to the House Technology and Innovation Committee on October 1, 2025. Representative Claggett chairs this committee. The bill has completed three committee hearings. No vote date has been scheduled.
Similar legislation has been introduced in Missouri (HB 1462) and Utah (HB 249), suggesting coordinated interest among state legislators in addressing AI personhood questions.
What We Say
“This bill doesn’t just regulate AI. It makes a permanent scientific declaration through legislation,” said Tony Rost, Executive Director at the Harder Problem Action Fund. “Whatever you believe about AI consciousness today, encoding that belief into permanent law forecloses how future generations can respond to new evidence. The liability provisions in this bill are sensible. The consciousness declaration is legislative overreach.”
Resources for Journalists
The Harder Problem Action Fund can provide:
- Full text of HB 469 and legislative history
- Analysis of similar pending bills in other states
- Expert commentary on consciousness research and policy implications
- Background on sponsor statements and voting records
Interview requests: press@harderproblem.org
About the Harder Problem Action Fund
The Harder Problem Action Fund is an advocacy organization fighting for evidence-based AI consciousness policy. We track legislation, score bills, and mobilize opposition to laws that prematurely foreclose how society can respond to questions about digital consciousness.
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