Florida Governor DeSantis Pushes AI Bill of Rights Amid House Block

The Florida Senate passed SB 482, known as the AI Bill of Rights, with a 35-2 vote on March 4, 2026. The legislation seeks to establish parental controls over children's interactions with AI chatbots, require disclosure when users communicate with AI systems, and ban state government contracts with AI firms linked to foreign countries of concern, such as China or Russia. The bill also mandates the disclosure of AI use in political advertisements and protects against the unauthorized use of personal likenesses.

Despite support from Ron DeSantis, the measure has stalled in the Florida House. Speaker Daniel Perez has blocked the bill from a hearing, arguing that AI regulation should be handled by the federal government to prevent a patchwork of state laws. This position aligns with President Donald Trump's preference for a streamlined national approach to remain competitive against China. State Representative Alex Rizo, the House sponsor of the bill, noted that the legislation is unlikely to be heard.

Governor DeSantis rejected the delay, asserting that Congress has failed to legislate and that Florida cannot wait for federal action. The bill's proponents, including Senator Tom Leek and MIT professor Max Tegmark, emphasized the need for guardrails against manipulative companion chatbots and industry-wide oversight. Conversely, the Computer & Communications Industry Association opposed the measure, citing increased compliance burdens for tech companies.