Legislative Alerts Press Releases

Washington Bill Would Prohibit AI Personhood, Target 'Rights of Nature' Laws

27 Dec 2025 By Harder Problem Action Fund

Washington Legislator Introduces Bill Banning AI Personhood, Cites ‘Rocks, Mudpuddles’

Bill explicitly links AI personhood to environmental rights movement; sponsor says both threaten citizen rights

PORTLAND, Ore. (December 31, 2025) — Washington House Bill 2029 would prohibit any governmental entity in the state from granting or recognizing legal personhood in artificial intelligence, nonhuman animals, bodies of water, or other natural features. The bill, introduced by Representative Hunter Abell, frames AI personhood as equivalent to “rights of nature” laws that the sponsor considers a threat to development.

What the Bill Does

HB 2029 would prohibit governmental entities from granting legal personhood to:

  • Artificial intelligence
  • Inanimate objects
  • Bodies of water
  • Land and real property
  • Atmospheric gases and astronomical objects
  • Weather
  • Plants and nonhuman animals
  • “Any other member of a taxonomic domain that is not a natural person”

The prohibition applies to courts, the legislature, and all state agencies.

Representative Hunter Abell (R-Inchelium), who serves as Assistant Ranking Member of the House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee, has made his motivations explicit.

In his press statement announcing the bill, Abell said: “We need to protect the rights and liberties of our citizens before we worry about the rights of rocks, mudpuddles, and AI.”

On why such legislation is necessary now, Abell stated: “My bill doesn’t seek to define AI. We just need to proactively acknowledge that whatever AI looks like in the future, we’re not going to be granting it the same rights as the person sitting next to you on the couch.”

Abell connected the bill to environmental policy debates, citing the City of Everett’s law granting enforceable legal rights to the Snohomish River Watershed as an example of what he called an “extremist movement” his bill aims to counter. He warned that “rights of nature” laws could “exacerbate the housing crisis, overburden the court system, and threaten the agricultural industry.”

Current Status

HB 2029 was introduced on February 27, 2025 and referred to the House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee. As of December 2025, the bill remains in committee with no scheduled hearings. The 2025 legislative session ended in April.

Washington operates on a two-year legislative cycle. Bills introduced in 2025 that do not pass can carry over to the 2026 session.

Why This Matters

HB 2029 is notable for explicitly linking AI personhood to the “rights of nature” movement. By categorizing AI alongside rivers, weather, and rocks, the bill makes an implicit determination that AI cannot possess qualities warranting legal consideration.

The bill contains no sunset provision and no mechanism for future scientific review. It would permanently bar Washington courts from recognizing AI personhood regardless of future technological developments.

Unlike some similar bills in other states, HB 2029’s sponsor has been explicit about the ideological framing. The bill is positioned as opposition to environmental rights advocacy as much as to AI rights.

What We Say

“Representative Abell has been transparent about his reasoning,” said Tony Rost, Executive Director at the Harder Problem Action Fund. “He frames AI personhood the same way he frames giving legal rights to rivers: as a threat to development. That clarity is useful. It shows this legislation is about ideology, not careful policy. Whatever one thinks about river rights, AI consciousness raises distinct questions that deserve thoughtful consideration, not categorical dismissal.”

Resources for Journalists

The Harder Problem Action Fund can provide:

  • Full text of HB 2029 and legislative history
  • Comparison with similar laws in Utah, Idaho, South Carolina, and North Dakota
  • Analysis of sponsor statements and ideological framing
  • Background on AI consciousness policy considerations

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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