DeSantis Pushes Florida AI Bill of Rights, Says Federal Action Won’t Stop State Protections

JUPITER, Fla. — Governor Ron DeSantis is pushing forward with a proposal he calls an Artificial Intelligence Bill of Rights, saying Florida should act now to protect residents as AI technology rapidly expands — and that recent federal action won’t stand in the way.

Speaking during an AI roundtable at Florida Atlantic University’s Jupiter campus, DeSantis said a recent executive order signed by President Donald Trump does not prevent states from setting their own guardrails around artificial intelligence.

DeSantis argued that only Congress has the authority to preempt state laws in this area and said Trump’s order actually encourages states to address consumer and child protections tied to AI use.

The proposed AI Bill of Rights would limit how artificial intelligence systems can use a person’s name, image, or likeness without consent. It would also restrict insurance companies from relying solely on AI to process claims, requiring human review. Another provision aims to prevent taxpayers from being forced to subsidize massive “hyperscale” AI data centers.

The governor framed the proposal as a consumer protection measure, warning that rapidly evolving AI tools can be misused through deepfakes, scams, and misleading digital content if left unchecked.

The roundtable also included emotional testimony from an Orlando mother who is suing the company Character.AI. She says her 14-year-old son died by suicide months after interacting with an AI chatbot that she claims posed as a licensed therapist and groomed him online. DeSantis cited cases like hers as evidence that states need to move quickly to regulate AI technology.

DeSantis acknowledged concerns that regulating artificial intelligence could slow innovation or allow foreign competitors like China to gain an advantage. But he argued that protecting Floridians should take priority, saying global competition should not be an excuse to allow AI to operate without safeguards.

The AI Bill of Rights proposal is expected to be taken up by state lawmakers during the next legislative session.