TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida lawmakers are working out of the State Capitol this week with plans to talk about vaccines, artificial intelligence and congressional redistricting.
What You Need To Know
A legislative special session begins Tuesday in Tallahassee and is scheduled to run through May 1
Florida lawmakers are scheduled to discuss vaccine exemptions, artificial intelligence and congressional redistricting
The special session was called by Gov. Ron DeSantis in January
Another special session is scheduled next month for lawmakers to finalize the state budget
A special session, which was called by Gov. Ron DeSantis in January, kicked off Tuesday in Tallahassee and is scheduled to run through Friday, May 1.
The topic of congressional redistricting has become controversial among state lawmakers. DeSantis unveiled his proposal for new congressional maps on Monday, which, if approved, could potentially give Republicans an advantage in Florida’s U.S. House races this November.
“We’re in a situation where, you know, we believe there’s defects in the current map,” DeSantis said during an August 2025 press conference. “We also believe that the districts are malapportioned because of the explosive growth that we’ve seen in the state of Florida. And so, I think even if they don’t do a new census, even if they don’t revise the current census, I still think it is appropriate to be doing it.”
State lawmakers will also discuss the Medical Freedom Act, which the Senate passed during the regular session. The act creates exemptions from vaccine requirements for children attending K-12 schools. It also authorizes ivermectin, a medication used to treat parasitic infections, to be sold without a prescription.
The bill would also make permanent Florida’s existing ban on discrimination based on a person’s mRNA vaccination status, and protects Floridians from forced vaccinations during emergencies, according to a memo sent to lawmakers this month.
Florida Senate President Pro Tempore Jason Brodeur said he plans to file legislation similar to Senate Bill 482, known as the Artificial Intelligence Bill of Rights. The bill would create consumer protection against AI, especially threats to child safety.
“I’m looking forward to addressing the issues in the Governor’s call for this special session which includes medical freedom and AI legislation, both of which passed the Senate during regular session,” Brodeur said in a statement to Spectrum News.
Lawmakers will be in Tallahassee starting Tuesday afternoon to discuss and eventually vote on the proposed congressional map. A separate special session is scheduled next month to finalize the state budget.