Phoenix: Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes Joins 44 States Opposing Federal KIDS Act

Arizona AG Leads Bipartisan Push Against House Bill That Would Override State Online Safety Laws

Kris Mayes, Arizona Attorney General, joined a coalition of 44 state attorneys general on Tuesday opposing a federal bill they say would strip states of their power to protect children online.

The coalition is targeting the Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act, known as the KIDS Act, a House bill that critics argue would preempt existing and future state laws while shielding major technology companies from legal accountability.

"H.R. 7757 lets Big Tech off the hook and would hurt the ability of states like Arizona to protect children online," Mayes said in a press release. "The safety of our children is more important than maximizing profits for Big Tech companies and the billionaires who own them."

The KIDS Act, formally designated H.R. 7757, contains broad preemption language that would override state laws addressing online harms to minors. According to the coalition, this includes laws covering social media platforms, obscene content, gaming platforms, and AI chatbots.

What the Coalition Wants Instead

The attorneys general are not calling for no federal legislation. They are backing the Senate version of the bill, the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), which includes a "duty of care" provision.

That language would require online platforms to act in the best interests of minors. The Senate version also preserves states' authority to pass and enforce their own stronger protections.

The letter was addressed to Senate Majority Leader John Thune, House Speaker Mike Johnson, and other congressional leaders. It was released on May 27.

Why Arizona Matters in This Fight

Arizona is among the states actively pursuing its own child online safety measures. Mayes pointed to the rapid rise of AI chatbots as a reason to push for stronger, not weaker, oversight.

"The safety of our children online is not negotiable," Mayes said.

Attorneys general across the country are already engaged in active investigations and lawsuits against platforms including Meta and TikTok. The allegations center on claims that these products deliberately target and harm underage users.

A Split Within the Republican Party

The coalition includes both Democratic and Republican attorneys general. The pushback highlights a growing divide within the Republican Party over how to regulate social media and technology companies.

Republican attorneys general who are also members of the House have expressed opposition to the House-sponsored bill, according to reporting by Forth. This splits the party between those supporting the House version and those backing the Senate alternative.

Who Joined the Letter

The coalition of 44 attorneys general includes the states of Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. The District of Columbia, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands also signed.

The letter arrives as the federal debate over child online safety intensifies ahead of potential votes in both chambers of Congress.