Florida AI Bill Fight Previews Paths for GOP Messaging in 2026

Florida’s special session that begins Tuesday will test Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis’ influence at home and set a standard for how far GOP-led states may go in shaping artificial intelligence policy ahead of the midterms.

DeSantis’ push to revive an “AI Bill of Rights” is a key piece of the session. The bill cleared the Senate with bipartisan support earlier this year, but stalled in the House—exposing a divide inside the party whether to regulate the fast-moving industry at the state level.

DeSantis has carved out a lane as an AI skeptic, pushing for consumer-focused guardrails even as President Donald ...