TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez won’t say whether Governor Ron DeSantis’ push for an “Artificial Intelligence Bill of Rights” will advance in his chamber this year.
However, three weeks remain in the legislative session, and the bill has not been heard in a single House committee yet.
The bill, HB 1395, would:
- Prohibit government entities from contracting for AI tech or products unless certain requirements are met;
- Requires consent for minors to create new chatbots or maintain existing ones;
- Provides the right for users to know if AI tech companies are collecting personal info or biometric data;
- Prohibits AI tech companies from selling or disclosing personal info;
- Prohibits the commercial use of someone’s name, image or likeness created through AI without consent, and more
[WATCH: Florida governor calls for artificial intelligence bill of rights]
This week Perez, R-Miami, maintained that the federal government should get the first crack at any effort to regulate the maturing tech field of AI.
Still, he held out the possibility that the House could act before the scheduled March 13 end of the session.
“I’ve been very clear that I think AI is an issue that should be dealt with by the federal government. I have massive concerns with the state’s ability to deal with anything in tech,” Perez said.
President Donald Trump has drawn widespread attention for trying to curb state regulations on AI through executive orders.
[WATCH: Central Florida lawmaker files AI ‘Bill of Rights’ in state Senate]
The Florida Senate version of the bill, SB 482, has passed its two committee assignments and was expected to go through second reading on the Senate floor on Friday. It includes parental controls and limits on state contracts with certain foreign countries.
State Sen. Tom Leek, R-Ormond Beach, is sponsoring the bill.
Still, Perez held out the possibility that the House could act before the scheduled March 13 end of the session.
I wouldn’t count out the House continuing to look at the issue, continuing to look at AI and data centers,” Perez said. “I wouldn’t say it’s a never, but it’s something that we’re still having a conversation. We still have time.”
Information from News Service of Florida was used in this report.
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