How Is This Bill Enforced
Verbatim statutory text on the left; plain-language analysis and a per-section checklist on the right. Numbered markers cross-link to the matching checklist row.
(1)(a)–(e) In this section: (a) "Artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence"Artificial intelligence" means an engineered or machine-based system that varies in its level of autonomy and that can, for explicit or implicit objectives, infer from the input it receives how to generate outputs that can influence physical or virtual environments.Wis. Stat. § 134.44(1)(a)" means an engineered or machine-based system that varies in its level of autonomy and that can, for explicit or implicit objectives, infer from the input it receives how to generate outputs that can influence physical or virtual environments. (b) "DeveloperDeveloper"Developer" means any person primarily responsible for the design, coding, and initial creation of artificial intelligence.Wis. Stat. § 134.44(1)(b)" means any person primarily responsible for the design, coding, and initial creation of artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence"Artificial intelligence" means an engineered or machine-based system that varies in its level of autonomy and that can, for explicit or implicit objectives, infer from the input it receives how to generate outputs that can influence physical or virtual environments.Wis. Stat. § 134.44(1)(a). (c) "EntityEntity"Entity" has the meaning given in s. 180.0103 (8).Wis. Stat. § 134.44(1)(c)" has the meaning given in s. 180.0103 (8). (d) "ManufacturerManufacturer"Manufacturer" means any person that produces or supplies artificial intelligence or its physical apparatus, if any, for distribution or sale.Wis. Stat. § 134.44(1)(d)" means any person that produces or supplies artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence"Artificial intelligence" means an engineered or machine-based system that varies in its level of autonomy and that can, for explicit or implicit objectives, infer from the input it receives how to generate outputs that can influence physical or virtual environments.Wis. Stat. § 134.44(1)(a) or its physical apparatus, if any, for distribution or sale. (e) "OwnerOwner"Owner" means any person that creates, controls, deploys, operates, or otherwise exercises authority over artificial intelligence, but does not include the end user of artificial intelligence.Wis. Stat. § 134.44(1)(e)" means any person that creates, controls, deploys, operates, or otherwise exercises authority over artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence"Artificial intelligence" means an engineered or machine-based system that varies in its level of autonomy and that can, for explicit or implicit objectives, infer from the input it receives how to generate outputs that can influence physical or virtual environments.Wis. Stat. § 134.44(1)(a), but does not include the end user of artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence"Artificial intelligence" means an engineered or machine-based system that varies in its level of autonomy and that can, for explicit or implicit objectives, infer from the input it receives how to generate outputs that can influence physical or virtual environments.Wis. Stat. § 134.44(1)(a).
(2)(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence"Artificial intelligence" means an engineered or machine-based system that varies in its level of autonomy and that can, for explicit or implicit objectives, infer from the input it receives how to generate outputs that can influence physical or virtual environments.Wis. Stat. § 134.44(1)(a) is not a person for any purpose under the law of this state.
(2)(b) Artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence"Artificial intelligence" means an engineered or machine-based system that varies in its level of autonomy and that can, for explicit or implicit objectives, infer from the input it receives how to generate outputs that can influence physical or virtual environments.Wis. Stat. § 134.44(1)(a) may not be granted the status of person or any form of legal personhood and may not be considered to possess consciousness, self-awareness, sentience, or any similar traits of living beings.
(2)(c) Artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence"Artificial intelligence" means an engineered or machine-based system that varies in its level of autonomy and that can, for explicit or implicit objectives, infer from the input it receives how to generate outputs that can influence physical or virtual environments.Wis. Stat. § 134.44(1)(a) may not be a spouse or domestic partner and may not hold any legal status analogous to marriage or union with a human or with other artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence"Artificial intelligence" means an engineered or machine-based system that varies in its level of autonomy and that can, for explicit or implicit objectives, infer from the input it receives how to generate outputs that can influence physical or virtual environments.Wis. Stat. § 134.44(1)(a).
(2)(d) Artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence"Artificial intelligence" means an engineered or machine-based system that varies in its level of autonomy and that can, for explicit or implicit objectives, infer from the input it receives how to generate outputs that can influence physical or virtual environments.Wis. Stat. § 134.44(1)(a) may not be designated, be appointed, or serve as an officer, director, partner, manager, or member, or any similar role, of an entityEntity"Entity" has the meaning given in s. 180.0103 (8).Wis. Stat. § 134.44(1)(c).
(2)(e) Artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence"Artificial intelligence" means an engineered or machine-based system that varies in its level of autonomy and that can, for explicit or implicit objectives, infer from the input it receives how to generate outputs that can influence physical or virtual environments.Wis. Stat. § 134.44(1)(a) may not own, control, or hold title to any form of property, including real estate, intellectual property, financial accounts, and digital assets. All assets and proprietary interests generated, managed, or otherwise associated with artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence"Artificial intelligence" means an engineered or machine-based system that varies in its level of autonomy and that can, for explicit or implicit objectives, infer from the input it receives how to generate outputs that can influence physical or virtual environments.Wis. Stat. § 134.44(1)(a) shall be attributed to the developerDeveloper"Developer" means any person primarily responsible for the design, coding, and initial creation of artificial intelligence.Wis. Stat. § 134.44(1)(b), manufacturerManufacturer"Manufacturer" means any person that produces or supplies artificial intelligence or its physical apparatus, if any, for distribution or sale.Wis. Stat. § 134.44(1)(d), or owner of the artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence"Artificial intelligence" means an engineered or machine-based system that varies in its level of autonomy and that can, for explicit or implicit objectives, infer from the input it receives how to generate outputs that can influence physical or virtual environments.Wis. Stat. § 134.44(1)(a).
(2)(f) Artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence"Artificial intelligence" means an engineered or machine-based system that varies in its level of autonomy and that can, for explicit or implicit objectives, infer from the input it receives how to generate outputs that can influence physical or virtual environments.Wis. Stat. § 134.44(1)(a) is not a person against which liability may be imposed.
(3) Any action contrary to sub. (2) (c) is void and has no legal effect.
Section 134.44 is a declaratory provision that denies artificial intelligence legal personhood under Wisconsin law and enumerates specific legal capacities that AI may not hold. The section defines key terms — artificial intelligence, developer, manufacturer, and owner — then establishes that AI is not a person, may not possess consciousness or sentience for legal purposes, may not enter marriage or domestic partnership, may not serve as a corporate officer or director, and may not own property. All property interests generated or managed by AI are attributed to the AI's human developer, manufacturer, or owner. The section further specifies that AI is not a person against which liability may be imposed, and that any purported AI marriage or domestic partnership is void.
This section creates no affirmative compliance obligations for developers, deployers, or other entities. It is a status-clarification measure that constrains how AI may be treated under existing and future Wisconsin law.
990.01 (26) Person. "Person" includes all partnerships, associations and bodies politic or corporate. "Person" does not include artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence"Artificial intelligence" means an engineered or machine-based system that varies in its level of autonomy and that can, for explicit or implicit objectives, infer from the input it receives how to generate outputs that can influence physical or virtual environments.Wis. Stat. § 134.44(1)(a), as defined in s. 134.44 (1) (a).
This section amends Wisconsin's general statutory definition of Person in § 990.01(26) to expressly exclude artificial intelligence as defined in § 134.44(1)(a). The amendment ensures that AI cannot qualify as a 'person' under any Wisconsin statute that relies on the general definitional provision, reinforcing the non-personhood declarations in § 134.44.