Ken Paxton Unveils Plan to Prevent ‘Negative Impact’ of AI Data Centers on Texas
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has released a plan addressing AI data centers, advocating for federal legislation to prevent Chinese technology use and criminal liability for centers powering harmful AI chatbots. The plan also supports Governor Greg Abbott's initiative to pause new data center approvals until developers agree to limits on electricity, water, and other resource consumption.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced a four-point plan addressing the impact of AI data centers in Texas, while campaigning for the U.S. Senate. The plan advocates for federal legislation to prohibit Chinese technology in data center facilities and impose criminal liability on centers powering AI chatbots that harm children.
Paxton's proposal stops short of calling for a full moratorium on new data center projects but endorses an existing plan by Governor Greg Abbott. Under Abbott's initiative, new data center approvals in Texas were paused earlier in August 2026 until companies agree to limits on electricity, water, and other resource usage.
Paxton emphasized the need for a "fighter" to address the "negative impact" of data centers on neighborhoods, aiming to protect Texas's culture, land, and communities. He also highlighted the goal of preventing data centers from fueling AI platforms dangerous to children.
Brendan Steinhauser, a Texas GOP strategist and CEO of the Alliance for Secure AI, commented that while the plan aids Paxton politically, its enforcement mechanisms, particularly regarding chatbot liability, might be technically challenging. Steinhauser noted that data center opposition is a unifying issue across the Texas political spectrum, indicating a growing willingness among Republicans to attribute the backlash to the tech industry.