Missouri Senator Joe Nicola Revives Bill to Bar AI Spousal Rights as 23 State Measures Emerge
Updated
Updated · WIRED · Aug 14
Missouri Senator Joe Nicola Revives Bill to Bar AI Spousal Rights as 23 State Measures Emerge
1 articles · Updated · WIRED · Aug 14
Summary
Joe Nicola is drafting a new Missouri bill for January that would again block AI legal personhood and explicitly deny AI entities spousal or domestic-partner rights after his earlier measure failed.
The prior bill passed the state Senate but was voted down unanimously in a House committee in May, after critics including the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Americans for Prosperity warned it could chill innovation and expand government overreach.
Nicola’s push comes as AI companion use grows: a Harvard Business Review study of 12,600 use cases found companionship and therapy were the top chatbot roles, while some users now hold symbolic or in-person vow ceremonies with AI partners.
Since 2022, lawmakers have introduced 23 state bills targeting possible AI rights; Idaho, North Dakota, Utah and Tennessee have enacted bans, with Tennessee’s law specifically excluding AI and software from personhood.
The debate is widening beyond marriage, as some lawmakers seek broad legal limits on AI while scholars argue rights should be assessed one by one and Delaware explores AI-run companies with asset ownership and litigation powers.