The Florida House of Representatives has declined to consider Governor Ron DeSantis's key priorities during a special session convened on Tuesday, which included new regulations for artificial intelligence (AI) and adjustments to vaccination requirements for K-12 students.
According to a report by Local 10, these initiatives were met with resistance from House Speaker Daniel Perez, a Republican, who informed lawmakers that no legislation on these issues would be pursued. Perez, who is the third Cuban-American to lead the state’s House, stated unequivocally as he exited the chamber, "I am confident that our decision not to advance these matters was the right one," as reported by Telemundo 51.
Governor's Plans Meet Legislative Resistance
The special session was originally called by DeSantis on April 15 to address the redrawing of Florida’s congressional districts, but the governor also sought to push through these proposals, which had already floundered during the regular legislative session.
Breakdown of DeSantis's Rejected Legislation
One of the bills, dubbed the "AI Bill of Rights," aimed to prevent minors from creating accounts on chatbot platforms without parental consent and required platforms to remind users they are interacting with a machine, not a human. It also sought to empower parents to oversee their children's use of these technologies.
Furthermore, it prohibited companies from sharing users' personal information and banned AI-based therapy services. DeSantis argued that AI usage must be regulated due to potential risks to children; however, Perez countered that such regulation should be under federal jurisdiction. "I understand the governor's desire to protect children, but a recent executive order from the President of the United States made it clear that federal government should handle AI policies," Perez asserted.
Debate Over Vaccine Mandates
The second proposal, aimed at promoting "medical freedom," introduced a new "conscience" exemption category, allowing parents to opt their children out of vaccines required for K-12 school entry, such as those for polio, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, measles, mumps, and rubella. This was in line with the changes to school vaccination rules DeSantis advocated in September.
The legislation also sought to protect individuals from mandatory vaccinations during public health emergencies. DeSantis noted that the measures he enacted during the pandemic to protect Floridians from mandates were temporary, stating, "We need to make it permanent because, when I am not here, you should be protected if this arises again."
In contrast, Perez expressed his discomfort with the idea of unvaccinated students in schools, especially against diseases like measles and chickenpox, which have been managed for decades. "That was something I wasn't comfortable with," he commented. Florida's current health context supports this caution, with over 153 confirmed measles cases in 2026, including an outbreak in Collier County, placing the state among the top five in the nation. Vaccination rates among kindergartners have dropped to 88-89%, below the 95% threshold needed for community immunity.
Senate's Mixed Response
Following the House's stance, the Senate responded differently to the two proposals: it approved the "AI Bill of Rights" but chose not to move forward with the vaccine proposal, despite having passed a similar version during the regular session in March.
DeSantis reacted sharply on social media platform X, stating, "Voters elected Republicans to defend freedom against both the big tech cartel and the medical-industrial complex." He also issued a direct warning to lawmakers: "It will be interesting to see these guys campaign as big tech enthusiasts and guardians of the medical-industrial complex."
The special session is scheduled to continue until May 1, primarily focusing on approving a new congressional map that would increase the number of Republican-held seats in Florida from 20 to 24 out of 28 total seats in the federal Congress.
Frequently Asked Questions on DeSantis's AI and Vaccine Initiatives
What were the key features of DeSantis's AI Bill of Rights?
The AI Bill of Rights proposed restrictions on minors creating accounts on chatbot platforms without parental consent, required platforms to inform users they are interacting with a machine, and prevented companies from sharing personal information and offering AI-based therapy services.
Why was the medical freedom vaccine proposal controversial?
The proposal was controversial because it sought to introduce a "conscience" exemption for vaccines required for school entry, raising concerns about public health and the risk of outbreaks of diseases that have been controlled through vaccination.