{"id":126877,"date":"2026-01-21T20:49:07","date_gmt":"2026-01-21T20:49:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/126877\/"},"modified":"2026-01-21T20:49:07","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T20:49:07","slug":"ai-bill-of-rights-backed-in-senate-tallahassee-reports","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/126877\/","title":{"rendered":"AI \u2018Bill of Rights\u2019 Backed in Senate \u2013 Tallahassee Reports"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida <\/p>\n

Amid opposition from a tech-industry group and a push by President Donald Trump for nationwide regulations, a proposed state \u201cArtificial Intelligence Bill of Rights\u201d started moving forward Wednesday in the Florida Senate.<\/p>\n

With the issue a priority of Gov. Ron DeSantis, the Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee unanimously backed a bill (SB 482) that includes establishing a \u201cright\u201d for parents to control children\u2019s interactions with artificial intelligence; establishing that people have a right to know when they\u2019re communicating with a human or an AI system or chatbot; and setting rules about the unauthorized use of people\u2019s names, images or likenesses.<\/p>\n

The measure also says people have a right to know whether political advertisements were created in whole or in part with the use of artificial intelligence and would prohibit Florida government agencies from contracting with AI firms tied to what is known as a \u201cforeign country of concern,\u201d such as China or Russia.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf we don\u2019t act, and Congress doesn\u2019t act, those protections won\u2019t exist for Florida\u2019s children and vulnerable adults,\u201d committee Chairman Tom Leek, an Ormond Beach Republican who is sponsoring the bill, said.<\/p>\n

While calling pieces of the bill a move in the right direction, Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith, D-Orlando, said some clarity is needed to define artificial intelligence and chatbots.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are real dangers of AI that are already here,\u201d Smith said. \u201cThere are AI systems that are engaging in sexually explicit abusive behavior towards children, and our laws need to make clear that AI cannot be used to sexually or emotionally abuse a child.\u201d<\/p>\n

Leek said he expects some parts of the bill to be \u201ctightened\u201d as it proceeds through the Legislature.<\/p>\n

Leek\u2019s proposal would need to clear the Appropriations Committee before it could go to the full Senate. Rep. Alex Rizo, R-Hialeah, has filed an identical bill (HB 1395) in the House.<\/p>\n

The Computer & Communications Industry Association, a national tech-industry group, last week sent a letter to the Senate opposing the bill. In a news release, Tom Mann, state policy manager for the group, said Leek\u2019s bill \u201cwould create a standalone state framework that increases compliance burdens without delivering clear safety benefits.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFragmented state laws make it challenging for a company to deploy more features and services in a particular state and risk undermining online free expression,\u201d Mann said in the news release.<\/p>\n

The Computer & Communications Industry Association and another industry group, NetChoice, are challenging two other Florida laws in federal courts.<\/p>\n

They are challenging a 2021 law that includes preventing platforms from banning political candidates from sites and requiring companies to publish \u2014 and apply consistently \u2014 standards about issues such as banning users or blocking their content. They are also fighting a 2024 law designed to prevent children from having access to certain social-media sites. They argue the law violates the First Amendment.<\/p>\n

Leek\u2019s proposal drew support Wednesday from groups ranging from the Florida AFL-CIO to the Christian Family Coalition.<\/p>\n

Ryan Kennedy of the Florida Citizens Alliance said safeguards are needed as one-third of children are choosing AI companions for \u201cserious interactions.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve also seen, of course, in Florida and across the nation a number of relationships that have been minors, and some adults, have gotten into with chatbots, and these relationships have resulted in some deaths, sadly,\u201d Kennedy told the committee.<\/p>\n

DeSantis has continued pressing for a state AI bill of rights after Trump issued an executive order seeking to limit state-by-state regulation of the fast-growing technology.<\/p>\n

Rather than preempting state laws, Trump\u2019s Dec. 11 directive required the U.S. Department of Justice to create an \u201cAI Litigation Council\u201d to review \u201conerous\u201d state laws that don\u2019t align with the White House\u2019s positions. States not in alignment could become ineligible for money intended to expand high-speed internet or face lawsuits.<\/p>\n

Leek said protections in his bill for minors and adults \u201care in line with what Trump wants.\u201d<\/p>\n

DeSantis has also called for legislation to try to prevent Floridians from getting hit with costs related to massive data centers needed for AI and other technology. The Senate Regulated Industries Committee on Tuesday approved a bill (SB 484) that addresses regulating data centers.<\/p>\n

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