Bills would prohibit AI from being spouses, therapists and managers

By Abigail Didonna, Missouri News NetworkTop of Form
JEFFERSON CITY — Several AI regulation bills were heard by the Missouri Senate Committee on General Laws on Wednesday.
Senate Bill 859, sponsored by Sen. Mike Moon, R-Ash Grove, would designate artificial intelligence systems as non-sentient entities, barring AI from being legally considered a person, spouse or domestic partner.
Moon’s bill also prevents AI from serving as any officer, director or manager within a company. The bill would also ban AI from owning the title to any property, including real estate, intellectual property or digital assets.
The largest aspect of this bill declares that AI systems are not capable of bearing fault or liability, and requires the owner of any AI system be legally responsible for any harm the AI may cause.
Moon mentioned that these regulations do not conflict with the executive order that established the desired AI policy of President Donald Trump.
“It is the policy of the United States to sustain and enhance the United States’ global AI dominance through a minimally burdensome national policy framework for AI,” according to the executive order posted on the White House website in December of last year.
The executive order also established an AI Litigation Task Force, which is responsible for challenging laws inconsistent with that policy.
“You may be aware that President Trump does not want certain guidelines established,” Moon said. “The establishment of guidelines in this particular substitute would not violate the desires of the current administration.”
Jared Hankinson, who spoke in opposition representing the Missouri Chamber of Commerce, brought up issues with a lack of clarity in the bill’s language, deterrence toward investment and the federal government’s executive order.
“Legislation like this, we feel, does serve as a deterrent for those businesses that are making critical investments in states all across the country,” Hankinson said. “It does serve as a deterrent from them investing in the state of Missouri, bringing those dollars and some of those jobs to the state.”
Hankinson expressed concerns about conflicting with Trump’s executive order, noting that if litigation occurred, it could be costly.
SB 1324, sponsored by Sen. Brad Hudson, R-Cape Fair, would require any AI-generated content to be labeled as made with AI.
AI-generated content depicting a real person must have an additional disclaimer and consent from the depicted individual to be produced, unless used for parody or satire.
“This legislation is intentionally broad, it is a starting point, it is not an ending point,” Hudson said, “We wanted it broad so it can be amended as needed to truly address the concerns about artificial intelligence while still allowing it to be used in situations where it makes sense.”
Hankinson also testified against this bill, citing concerns about the burdens that adding watermarks would put on companies.
“It would be a very significant cost burden,” he said, “Bringing on staff, deploying the systems to be able to comb through all of the artificially-generated content that is created and then apply those watermarks. It would be a burden on businesses that they’re just not able to sustain currently.”
SB 1444, sponsored by Sen. Patty Lewis, D-Kansas City, would prohibit any person or company from advertising AI as a mental health professional or as capable of providing therapy services.
Marc Herstand, representing the National Association of Social Workers, spoke in support of the bill.
“Social workers also believe that healing happens within human relationships,” Herstand said. “AI cannot assess risk, interpret non-verbal cues, understand complex trauma responses, or sit with a client in crisis like a trained human professional can.”
Fourteen people came to voice their support for Lewis’ bill, with no individuals testifying in opposition.