HB 2029 Washington House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Concerning recognition of legal personhood by a governmental entity.

HB 2029 prohibits Washington state governmental entities (including courts, the legislature, and agencies) from granting or recognizing legal personhood to non-human entities. The bill specifically bans this for artificial intelligence, inanimate objects, bodies of water, land, real property, atmospheric gases, astronomical objects, weather, plants, nonhuman animals, and other non-human taxonomic groups. Legal personhood - defined as the rights and obligations of a natural person under state law - is explicitly barred from being extended to these categories. This bill directly affects how state agencies and courts may legally treat non-human entities, preventing them from being granted personhood status. The law takes effect immediately upon enactment.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 12, 2026 Last action Jan 12, 2026
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2
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Committee
0
Jan 12, 2026
Introduced
By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.
lower
1 primary · 6 co-sponsors

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