Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin joined 39 other state attorneys general in opposing the 10-year prohibition on artificial intelligence included in the proposed “Big Beautiful Bill”.
In a letter dated May 16, 2025, addressed to Speaker Johnson, Majority Leader Thune, Minority Leader Jeffries, and Minority Leader Schumer, it stated in part:
“We, the undersigned attorneys general (the “State AGs”), write to voice our opposition to the amendment added by the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee to the budget reconciliation bill that imposes a 10-year prohibition on states from enforcing any state law or regulation addressing artificial intelligence (“AI”) and automated decision-making systems. The impact of such a broad moratorium would be sweeping and wholly destructive of reasonable state efforts to prevent known harms associated with AI. This bill will affect hundreds of existing and pending state laws passed and considered by both Republican and Democratic state legislatures. Some existing laws have been on the books for many years.”
The objections raised by the AG’s are just one part of growing Conservative criticism aimed at what many now view as a bloated bill that has strayed from its original intent.
Conservative commentator Daniel Horowitz didn’t mince words, warning that:
“Americans didn’t elect Donald Trump so they could be ‘nudged’ by globalist billionaires into living in Doug Burgum’s Chinese-style prison cities, monitored 24/7 and trapped by nanny-state AI running Google or Amazon’s cloud, forced to “eat the bugs” and getting raped and robbed on grimy, broken down “gun free” public transportation.”
Horowitz argued that the AI provision proves GOP leadership can include anything they truly want in the bill — and that excuses for not acting on issues like deportation are often a matter of political will, not actual limitations.
Echoing those concerns, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene said, “The One Big Beautiful Bill is supposed to be about delivering President Trump’s campaign promises on taxes, America First energy, and sweeping border security — NOT destroying states’ rights for the AI industry.” (However, Greene failed to mention she already voted Yes on the BBB and sent it to the Senate. Apparently, she had to pass it first to find out what’s in it.)
At any rate, their critiques reflect growing frustration among some on the right who believe the bill is being hijacked by special interests and bureaucratic agendas.
The ongoing controversy surrounding the “Big Beautiful Bill” shows deeper divisions within the conservative movement. While some view it as a step toward fulfilling key campaign promises, others see it as a bloated package that is getting into dangerous territory, particularly with AI regulation and state authority.
