As Introduced

136th General Assembly

Regular Session H. B. No. 524

2025-2026

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.

(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.

(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.