Florida Pushes ‘AI Bill of Rights’ While Feds Try to Block State Regulation

As concerns about artificial intelligence grow across the country, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has announced a new “Artificial Intelligence Bill of Rights” aimed at protecting Floridians. The proposal creates safeguards against potential risks from AI technology while establishing new privacy and consumer protections.

The conceptual proposal, not yet filed in the Legislature, includes several key protections. It bans deepfakes and explicit material, prohibits state agencies from using Chinese-created AI tools, and requires companies to notify consumers when they’re interacting with AI chatbots.

Parents would gain significant new controls under the proposal. They’d have access to their children’s conversations with large language models and could set limits on how their kids use AI platforms. The system would also notify parents if AI detects concerning behavior from their children.

“We want to make sure data remains secure and private when it’s used in AI systems,” said DeSantis. The bill prohibits companies from selling or sharing deidentified personal information, building on Florida’s existing privacy laws.

For insurance customers, the proposal prevents insurers from using AI as the only factor when adjusting or denying claims. The proposal requires transparency in claims decisions when insurers utilize artificial intelligence technologies. House Bill 527, advancing through committees, requires human review of AI-generated claim decisions.

The governor’s plan also sets limits on AI-generated political ads, requiring clear disclosure when AI creates campaign materials. State contracts with suppliers linked to “countries of concern” would face new restrictions.

DeSantis is asserting Florida’s authority despite federal attempts to limit state AI regulations. “The federal government can’t block states from protecting their citizens,” he said, challenging the notion that a federal executive order preempts state legislation.

The proposal signals Florida’s intention to take a prescriptive approach to AI regulation amid the national debate over how to manage this rapidly growing technology. The initiative joins a broader movement of state-level actions addressing AI concerns, with Texas, New York, and Virginia recently banning Chinese AI applications on government devices. It focuses especially on consumer protection, online safety, and privacy rights as AI becomes more integrated into daily life. The bill, originally introduced by Senator Tom Leek, aims to provide Floridians with clearer safeguards regarding how companies use advanced AI systems.