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HB2029 • 2026

Legal personhood

Concerning recognition of legal personhood by a governmental entity.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Representative Abell, Representative Corry, Representative Chase, Representative Ley, Representative Marshall, Representative Walsh, Representative Dufault
Last action
2026-01-12
Official status
H Civil R & Judi
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Legal personhood

Legal personhood

What This Bill Does

  • Legal personhood

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-01-12 House

    By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.

Official Summary Text

Legal personhood

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
AN ACT Relating to the recognition of legal personhood by a 1
governmental entity; and adding a new section to chapter 42.04 RCW.2
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:3
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 42.04 4
RCW to read as follows: 5
(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a governmental 6
entity may not grant legal personhood to, or recognize legal 7
personhood in, any: 8
(a) Artificial intelligence; 9
(b) Inanimate object; 10
(c) Body of water; 11
(d) Land; 12
(e) Real property; 13
(f) Atmospheric gas; 14
(g) Astronomical object; 15
(h) Weather; 16
(i) Plant; 17
(j) Nonhuman animal; or 18
(k) Any other member of a taxonomic domain that is not a natural 19
person. 20
(2) As used in this section: 21
H-1693.1
HOUSE BILL 2029
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Representatives Abell, Corry, Chase, Ley, Marshall, Walsh, and
Dufault
Read first time 02/27/25. Referred to Committee on Civil Rights &
Judiciary.
p. 1 HB 2029
(a) "Body of water" means any natural or man-made accumulation of 1
water, regardless of whether the accumulation of water is static or 2
subject to a force that causes a hydrological current.3
(b) "Governmental entity" means a court, the legislature, and any 4
agency as defined in RCW 42.56.010. 5
(c) "Land" means the solid terrestrial surface or subsurface of 6
the earth. 7
(d) "Legal personhood" means the legal rights and obligations of 8
a natural person, or a legal person other than a natural person, 9
under the laws of this state. 10
(e) "Real property" means any building, fixture, improvement, 11
appurtenance, structure, or other development that is affixed 12
permanently to land. 13
--- END ---
p. 2 HB 2029