Republicans in Florida again block Ron DeSantis' push to regulate AI

Artificial intelligenceRepublicans in Florida again block Ron DeSantis' push to regulate AIThe governor is emerging as a voice of AI skepticism in the Republican Party, but the state Legislature declined to take up DeSantis' push for legislation.Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' skepticism has largely centered on opposition to massive data centers and the danger AI can pose to children. Corey Perrine / Florida Times-Union via USA Today Network ShareAdd NBC News to GoogleApril 28, 2026, 1:01 PM EDTBy Matt DixonTALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Republicans in Florida have once again rebuffed Gov. Ron DeSantis’ push to pass sweeping AI regulation in the state, a move that comes as he is trying to make himself the face of Republican AI skepticism nationally.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.DeSantis was unable to get the Republican majorities in both chambers to pass an AI-focused regulatory scheme during the state’s regular legislative session earlier this year. He again asked them to consider the proposal during a special session that kicked off this week, which is predominantly focused on considering changes to Florida’s congressional lines.But House Speaker Daniel Perez, a Republican who has a long-running feud with DeSantis, said when opening the special session Tuesday morning that the DeSantis-requested AI proposal would not be considered. That move put Perez on the same side as President Donald Trump, whose administration has said AI regulation should happen at the federal level.“I understand the governor’s concerns of wanting to protect children,” Perez said. “But we have seen very clearly that the president of the United States issued an executive order stating the federal government should take the handle of the AI policies in this country.”No Republican in the Florida state House had filed the AI legislation that DeSantis requested, which made it difficult for the measure to be considered during the weeklong special session. The Florida Senate, which is more closely aligned with DeSantis, passed legislation the governor requested on a bipartisan vote, but the issue is moot because the House will not consider the issue.DeSantis’ office did not return a request seeking comment.The governor quickly blasted the decision to not consider the AI proposal and a separate one focused on vaccine exemptions for kids.“Voters elected Republicans to protect freedom against both the Big Tech cartel and the medical industrial complex,” he wrote on social media. “Yet, when given the chance to deliver for their constituents, not a single Republican House member could even be bothered to file a bill.”The Florida governor in recent months has openly talked about his skepticism of rapid expansion of AI and supported the idea of states implementing their own AI regulations — something opposed by both industry players and the White House.AI has increasingly become a dominant national political issue, with AI-aligned super PACs flooding the airwaves with ads ahead of the 2026 midterms. Major figures expected to consider a run for president in 2028, including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have positioned themselves as clear supporters of the industry and federal — not state — regulation.DeSantis, himself considered a potential 2028 candidate, has taken the opposite approach. It gives him a political lane on the issue nearly all…

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