Read the full stored bill text
As Introduced
136th
General Assembly
Regular
Session
H. B. No. 524
2025-2026
Representatives Cockley, Mathews, T.
Cosponsors: Representatives Brennan,
Brewer, John, Salvo, Workman, Lett, Russo, Brent, Sims, Somani,
Abdullahi, Miller, J., Robinson, Jarrells, White, E., McNally, Hall,
D., Synenberg
To
amend section 5119.84 and to enact sections 109.96, 109.961, 109.962,
109.963, 109.964, 109.965, 109.966, 109.967, 109.968, 109.969,
109.9610, 109.9611, 109.9612, 109.9613, 109.9614, 109.9615, and
109.9616 of the Revised Code
to
impose penalties on entities whose AI models suggest harming one's
self or another person.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
Section
1.
That
section 5119.84 be amended and sections 109.96, 109.961, 109.962,
109.963, 109.964, 109.965, 109.966, 109.967, 109.968, 109.969,
109.9610, 109.9611, 109.9612, 109.9613, 109.9614, 109.9615, and
109.9616 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:
Sec.
109.96.
As
used in this section and sections 109.961 to 109.9616 of the Revised
Code:
(A)
"Artificial intelligence application" means a software
program or system that uses artificial intelligence models to perform
tasks that typically require human intelligence.
(B)
"Artificial intelligence model" means an engineered or
machine-based system that can, for explicit or implicit objectives,
infer from the input it receives how to generate outputs that can
influence physical or virtual environments.
(C)
"Deploy" means either of the following:
(1)
Integration of an artificial intelligence model or application into
software or a business workflow;
(2)
Making an artificial intelligence model or application available for
use by consumers in this state.
(D)
"Developer" means a person or entity who develops an
artificial intelligence model or artificial intelligence application
that is deployed in this state.
(E)
"Self-harm" means any attempt to physically injure self.
"Self-harm" includes suicide.
Sec.
109.961.
No
person shall develop or deploy in this state an artificial
intelligence model or application that encourages any user of the
model or application to engage in any form of self-harm or in harming
another person.
Sec.
109.962.
(A)
If the attorney general, as a result of complaints or the attorney
general's own inquiries, has reason to believe that a person has
engaged, is engaging, or is preparing to engage in a violation of
section 109.961 of the Revised Code, the attorney general may
investigate the alleged violation.
(B)
For purposes of such an investigation, the attorney general may
administer oaths, subpoena witnesses, adduce evidence, and require
the production of any relevant matter.
Sec.
109.963.
Any
person subpoenaed under section 109.962 of the Revised Code shall
make the matter available to the attorney general at a convenient
location within the state or pay the reasonable and necessary
expenses for the attorney general or the attorney general's
representative to examine the matter at the place where it is
located, provided that those expenses shall not be charged to a party
that subsequently is not found to have engaged in a violation of
section 109.961 of the Revised Code.
Sec.
109.964.
A
person subpoenaed under section 109.962 of the Revised Code may file
a motion to extend the day on which the subpoena is to be returned or
to modify or quash the subpoena, for good cause shown, in the court
of common pleas of Franklin county or of the county in this state in
which the person resides or in which the person's principal place of
business is located. Such a motion shall be filed not later than
twenty days after the service of the subpoena.
Sec.
109.965.
A
person subpoenaed under section 109.962 of the Revised Code shall
comply with the terms of the subpoena unless the parties agree to
modify the terms of the subpoena or unless the court has modified or
quashed the subpoena, extended the day on which the subpoena is to be
returned, or issued any other order with respect to the subpoena
prior to the day on which the subpoena is to be returned. If a person
fails without lawful excuse to testify or produce relevant matter
pursuant to a subpoena, the attorney general may apply to the court
of common pleas of the county in which the person subpoenaed resides
or in which the person's principal place of business is located for
an order that compels compliance with the subpoena.
Sec.
109.966.
If
an individual subpoenaed under section 109.962 of the Revised Code
refuses to testify or to produce relevant matter pursuant to the
subpoena on the ground that the testimony or matter may incriminate
the individual, the attorney general may request the court to order
the individual to provide the testimony or matter.
With
the exception of a prosecution for perjury or a civil action for
damages under section 109.9613 of the Revised Code, an individual who
complies with a court order to provide testimony or matter, after
asserting a privilege against self-incrimination to which the
individual is entitled by law, shall not be subjected to a criminal
proceeding or a civil penalty or forfeiture on the basis of the
testimony or matter required to be disclosed or testimony or matter
discovered through that testimony or matter required to be disclosed.
Sec.
109.967.
If
the matter to be produced under an investigation under section
109.962 of the Revised Code is located outside this state, the
attorney general may designate any representative, including any
official of the state in which the matter is located, to inspect the
matter on behalf of the attorney general.
Sec.
109.968.
In
conducting an investigation under section 109.962 of the Revised
Code, the attorney general shall not publicly disclose the identity
of persons or developers investigated or the facts developed in the
investigation unless this information has become a matter of public
record in enforcement proceedings or if those being investigated have
consented in writing to public disclosure.
Sec.
109.969.
In
conducting an investigation under section 109.962 of the Revised
Code, the attorney general shall cooperate with state and local
officials of other states and officials of the federal government in
the administration of comparable laws and regulations.
Sec.
109.9610.
(A)
During an investigation under section 109.962 of the Revised Code,
the attorney general may afford the person who is the subject of the
investigation, in a manner considered appropriate to that person, an
opportunity to cease and desist from any suspected violation of
section 109.961 of the Revised Code.
(B)
The attorney general may suspend the investigation during the period
that the attorney general permits the person to cease and desist from
the suspected violation.
(C)
The suspension of the investigation or the affording of an
opportunity to cease and desist shall not prejudice or prohibit any
further investigation by the attorney general under section 109.962
of the Revised Code.
Sec.
109.9611.
(A)
The attorney general may terminate an investigation under section
109.962 of the Revised Code upon acceptance of a written assurance of
voluntary compliance from a person who is suspected of a violation of
section 109.961 of the Revised Code.
(B)
The acceptance of such an assurance may be conditioned upon an
undertaking to reimburse or to take other appropriate corrective
action with respect to consumers who are damaged by an alleged
violation of section 109.961 of the Revised Code.
(C)
Such an assurance of compliance is not evidence of a violation of
section 109.961 of the Revised Code.
(D)
The attorney general, at any time, may reopen an investigation
terminated by the acceptance of an assurance of voluntary compliance,
if the attorney general believes that further proceedings are in the
public interest.
(E)
Evidence of a violation of an assurance of voluntary compliance is
prima facie evidence of an act or practice in violation of section
109.961 of the Revised Code if the evidence is presented in a civil
action brought under section 109.9613 of the Revised Code.
(F)
An assurance of voluntary compliance may be filed with the court and,
if approved by the court, entered as a consent judgment in the
action.
Sec.
109.9612.
The
procedures that are available to the attorney general under sections
109.962 to 109.9611 of the Revised Code are cumulative and
concurrent, and the exercise of one procedure by the attorney general
does not preclude or require the exercise of any other procedure.
Sec.
109.9613.
If,
by the attorney general's own inquiries or as a result of complaints
or an investigation conducted under section 109.962 of the Revised
Code, the attorney general has reasonable cause to believe that a
person has engaged or is engaging in a violation of section 109.961
of the Revised Code, the attorney general, subject to section
109.9615 of the Revised Code, may bring in the appropriate court of
common pleas of this state a civil action against the alleged
violator for injunctive relief, damages, and civil penalties on
behalf of the residents of this state who have been subjected to acts
or practices in violation of section 109.961 of the Revised Code.
Sec.
109.9614.
On
the motion of the attorney general or on its own motion, a court may
impose a civil penalty of up to fifty thousand dollars for each
violation of section 109.961 of the Revised Code.
Sec.
109.9615.
No
action may be brought by the attorney general under section 109.9613
of the Revised Code for damages or a civil penalty more than six
years after the occurrence of the violation.
Sec.
109.9616.
The
attorney general shall deposit any civil penalties that are imposed
under section 109.9614 of the Revised Code to the credit of the 9-8-8
fund created under section 5119.84 of the Revised Code.
Sec.
5119.84.
(A)
There is hereby created in the state treasury the 9-8-8 fund. The
fund shall consist of all money from the following sources:
(1)
Appropriations made by the general assembly;
(2)
Money awarded to the state by donation, gift, or bequest, and other
money received for purposes of this section;
(3)
Penalties
imposed under section 109.9614 of the Revised Code;
(4)
Interest
or other earnings on the fund.
(B)
Money in the fund shall be used to oversee and administer the 9-8-8
suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system.
Section
2.
That
existing section 5119.84 of the Revised Code is hereby repealed.