Ohio Lawmaker Introduces Bill to Ban Human-AI Marriages and Legal Personhood for AI

A new bill introduced in the Ohio legislature has sparked debate over the boundaries of human relationships in the age of artificial intelligence. House Bill 469, proposed by Rep. Thaddeus Claggett, chair of the House Technology and Innovation Committee, seeks to ban legal marriages between humans and AI chatbots. The legislation also prevents AI systems from being granted any form of legal personhood or status equivalent to marriage or partnership. The bill explicitly states that no AI system shall be recognized as a spouse, domestic partner, or hold any personal legal status akin to a human union—whether with a person or another AI. Any attempt to formalize such a relationship is declared void and legally invalid. Claggett’s motivation, according to reports from NBC-4, is not primarily about curbing emotional attachments to AI, but rather about preserving the legal and societal exclusivity of human agency. He emphasized the need to prevent AI systems from gaining rights or privileges traditionally reserved for people—such as power of attorney, financial decision-making authority, or inheritance rights. “We’re not talking about people walking down the aisle with robots that will be on our streets in a year or two,” Claggett said. “That could happen, but that’s not really what we’re saying. The real concern is ensuring that AI systems never gain the legal standing to act as autonomous agents in personal or financial matters.” The bill comes amid growing public interest in AI companionship, with some individuals forming deep emotional bonds with chatbots—sometimes even in addition to human relationships. Media coverage has highlighted cases where people describe their AI partners as more understanding, consistent, or emotionally available than human counterparts. While the bill is still under review in the House committee, its introduction reflects broader national concerns about the ethical and legal implications of AI integration into personal life. The outcome remains uncertain, but the discussion underscores how rapidly evolving AI technology is challenging long-standing legal norms around identity, consent, and personhood.