DEFINITIONS OF PERSON/LIFE

Plain English Breakdown

The source text does not define 'human entity' separately from 'natural person', leaving ambiguity on how they differ in practice.

HB 251: Defining Person and Life in Alaska Law

This bill updates how Alaska law defines the words 'person' for general statutes and criminal cases, adds a definition of 'life', and sets an effective date.

What This Bill Does

• Updates the general statute definition of 'person' to include natural persons or human entities with the moral right of self-determination, as well as corporations and other organizations.
• States that under general statutes, a 'person' does not include environmental elements, artificial intelligence, animals, or inanimate objects.
• Updates criminal law definitions so 'person' means a natural person or a human entity with the moral right of self-determination, and sometimes includes an organization, government, or governmental instrumentality.
• States that under criminal law, a 'person' does not include environmental elements, artificial intelligence, animals, or inanimate objects.
• Adds a new definition for 'life' as the quality distinguishing living human organisms from dead ones or matter, shown through metabolism, growth, reproduction, response to stimuli, or adaptation originating within the organism.
• Sets rules so these criminal law definitions apply only to offenses committed on or after July 1, 2026.

Who It Names or Affects

• Courts and judges interpreting Alaska statutes
• Law enforcement agencies handling criminal cases

Terms To Know

Natural person

A human being, as opposed to a business or group.

Moral right of self-determination

The specific quality required for a 'human entity' to be considered a 'person' under this bill.

Limits and Unknowns

• The text does not explain how courts will decide if a human entity has the moral right of self-determination.
• It is unclear which specific criminal charges or civil cases these definitions will change in practice beyond those covered by AS 11.81.900.

Official Summary Text

DEFINITIONS OF PERSON/LIFE
An Act relating to the definition of 'person' in Alaska Statutes; relating to criminal law definitions; and providing for an effective date.

Current Bill Text

HB0251a -1- HB 251
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

34-LS0159\N

HOUSE BILL NO. 251

IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA

THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - SECOND SESSION

BY REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE

Introduced: 1/20/26
Referred: Health and Social Services, Judiciary

A BILL

FOR AN ACT ENTITLED

"An Act relating to the definition of 'person' in Alaska Statutes; relating to criminal law 1
definitions; and providing for an effective date." 2
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 3
* Section 1. AS 01.10.060(a)(8) is amended to read: 4
(8) "person" includes a corporation, company, partnership, firm, 5
association, organization, business trust, or society, as well as a natural person; or a 6
human entity that has the moral right of self-determination; "person" does not 7
include an environmental element, artificial intelligence, animal, or inanimate 8
object; 9
* Sec. 2. AS 11.81.900(b)(48) is amended to read: 10
(48) "person" means a natural person or a human entity that has the 11
moral right of self-determination and, when appropriate, an organization, 12
government, or governmental instrumentality; "person" does not include an 13
environmental element, artificial intelligence, animal, or inanimate object; 14
34-LS0159\N
HB 251 -2- HB0251a
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

* Sec. 3. AS 11.81.900(b) is amended by adding a new paragraph to read: 1
(71) "life" means the property or quality that distinguishes a living 2
human organism from a dead organism or inanimate matter and that is manifested in 3
the function of metabolism, growth, or reproduction, a response to stimuli, or 4
adaptation to the environment, each of which originates within the organism. 5
* Sec. 4. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 6
read: 7
APPLICABILITY. AS 11.81.900(b)(48), as amended by sec. 2 of this Act, and AS 8
11.81.900(b)(71), enacted by sec. 3 of this Act, apply to offenses committed on or after the 9
effective date of this Act. 10
* Sec. 5. This Act takes effect July 1, 2026. 11