Florida AI Bill of Rights stalls in House after passing Senate

In short: Florida’s “AI Bill of Rights” passed the state Senate but stalled in the state House, after House leaders said they want federal rules instead.

What happened

Florida lawmakers considered a bill called the “AI Bill of Rights” (SB 482). It passed the Florida Senate by a wide margin, 35 to 2. But the House version did not get a committee hearing, and a later House bill also did not advance.

The Senate bill would have added several limits and disclosure rules for AI tools. One key piece would have stopped AI “companion” chatbots (chat programs meant to feel like a friend) from interacting with children without a parent’s permission. It also would have required platforms to tell people when they are talking to an AI instead of a human, similar to how a store might post a sign that says “self checkout.”

The bill also aimed to stop companies from using a person’s name, image, or likeness without permission. Another part would have blocked Florida government agencies from signing contracts with AI firms tied to “foreign countries of concern,” including China and Russia. If the Florida attorney general decided a violation was “egregious,” fines could reach $50,000.

House Speaker Daniel Perez said the House believes the federal government should handle AI rules, rather than different rules in each state. The reporting also links this position to President Trump’s preference for federal oversight.

Why it matters

AI chatbots and AI-made media are showing up in more places, including tools used by kids and schools. The fight in Florida shows how hard it can be to set safety rules quickly, even when a bill passes one chamber and has support from the governor.

Source: NYTimes