Coalition Urges Texas Lawmakers Against Heavy-Handed Regulation Of AI

Dear Representative,

As you prepare for the upcoming legislative session, we, the undersigned organizations, express our opposition to the draft legislation titled “Texas Responsible AI Governance Act” (TRAIGA). Though well-intentioned, this draft bill imposes restrictive regulations and burdensome compliance costs that risk stifling Texas’s thriving artificial intelligence (AI) sector. Texas has a unique opportunity to be a leader in AI innovation, but TRAIGA’s approach threatens to undermine that potential. It would also be detrimental as a policy framework for other states or the federal government.

TRAIGA mirrors regulatory models from states like California and Colorado—where interventionist policies limit growth and innovation. Texas has earned its reputation as a magnet for tech companies by championing free markets, limited government, minimal taxation, and personal freedom. Although TRAIGA’s sponsor claims the draft bill will make Texas a “global center of AI,” its compliance demands and penalties are more likely to drive tech investment away and stifle growth, especially among small, local innovators.

Colorado’s recent experience with AI legislation is instructive. When Colorado enacted its AI law, Gov. Jared Polis immediately expressed concerns, urging Congress to adopt a federal standard to avoid conflicting state regulations. Texas should heed this caution and avoid similar pitfalls that risk undermining AI advancements. Another concern is TRAIGA’s limited open-source protections. By layering on costly compliance obligations, TRAIGA risks making Texas an unwelcoming place for open-source projects, which are foundational to AI innovation.

This regulatory burden particularly hurts small businesses that lack the resources of larger corporations, effectively favoring “Big Tech” and limiting competition. Further, TRAIGA’s compliance mandates risk expanding bureaucratic layers, adding unnecessary costs without enhancing genuine innovation. Instead, Texas should lead with a minimal framework for current laws to work in AI rather than adding more laws.

To keep Texas a leader in AI and provide a path for other states and the federal government to follow, we urge lawmakers to consider alternative, balanced models, such as Utah’s light-touch AI framework. This approach emphasizes transparency and accountability without stifling growth and creates a climate where innovators can flourish. The decision on TRAIGA is crucial as it will determine whether Texas adopts a balanced approach to AI regulation or a restrictive, blue-state model that hampers innovation. We urge you to make the right choice for Texas.

Thank you for considering our concerns. We are hopeful that Texas will choose a forward-looking, market-driven AI policy framework that solidifies the state as a top place for AI innovation and can be a model for others. We believe in the potential of Texas’s AI sector and look forward to a positive outcome.

Sincerely,

Grover Norquist – President, Americans for Tax Reform

Logan Kolas – Director of Technology Policy, American Consumer Institute

James Czerniawski – Senior Policy Analyst, Tech and Innovation, Americans for Prosperity

Genevieve Collins – State Director for Americans Prosperity, Americans for Prosperity – Texas

Jessica Melugin – Director of the Center for Technology & Innovation, Competitive Enterprise Institute

Yael Ossowski – Deputy Director, Consumer Choice Center

Annette Meeks – Founder & CEO, Freedom Foundation of Minnesota

Tanner Avery – Director of The Center for New Frontiers, Frontier Institute

Dr. Vance Ginn – President, Ginn Economic Consulting Senior Fellow, Americans for Tax Reform

Patrick Gleason – VP of State Affair, Americans for Tax Reform Senior Fellow, Beacon Center of Tennessee

Mario Lopez – President, Hispanic Leadership Fund

Tom Giovanneti – President, Institute for Policy Innovation

Dr. Edward Longe – Director of the Center for Technology and Innovation, James Madison Institute

Caden Rosenbaum – Senior Policy Analyst, Libertas Institute

Charles Sauer – President, Market Institute

John Tamny – Senior Fellow, Market Institute

Chris Cargill – President, Mountain States Policy Center

Brandon Arnold – Executive Vice President, National Taxpayers Union

Ryan Haynie – General Counsel, Oklahoma Council for Public Affairs

Daniel Erspamer – CEO, Pelican Institute for Public Policy

Stephen Stepanek – President, Pine Tree Public Policy Institute

Adam Thierer – Senior Fellow, R Street Institute

David Williams – President, Taxpayer Protection Alliance

Casey Given – President & Executive Director, Young Voices