Full Breakdown
Florida House Blocks Governor DeSantis’ AI and Vaccine Bills in Special Session
4/29/2026, 10:50:54 PM
House Blocks Governor’s AI and Vaccine Proposals
On Tuesday, April 28, 2026, Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez declared the AI “bill of rights” and the vaccine-exemption measure dead on arrival, ending any chance that the House would consider the governor’s top priorities during the special session. The Senate was prepared to act, but the House’s refusal left the session focused solely on congressional redistricting.
Legislative Background and Special Session Context
Governor Ron DeSantis called a four-day special session on April 15 to address redistricting, vaccine exemptions, and AI safeguards after the regular session ended in March. The Senate had already passed the AI bill in a bipartisan 37-1 vote and had approved the vaccine bill (SB 1756) by a 23-15 margin during the regular session. No House member filed the proposals before the special session began, giving Perez a procedural basis to decline them.
Key Players and Advocacy Groups
- Governor Ron DeSantis – champion of AI regulation and expanded vaccine exemptions.
- Speaker Daniel Perez – House leader opposing the bills, citing federal jurisdiction.
- Sen. Erin Grall (R-Vero Beach) – lone Senate dissent on the AI bill.
- Attorney General James Uthmeier – leading investigations into AI platforms.
- Rep. Sam Garrison (R-Jacksonville) – supports federal leadership on AI.
- Rep. Anna Eskamani (D-Orlando) – skeptical that federal action will materialize.
- Alliance for Secure AI, Humans First, Alliance for a Better Future, Florida Citizens Alliance – pro-AI-regulation groups that staged press events outside the Capitol.
Timeline of the April 28 Session
- April 15 – DeSantis announces special session.
- April 28, 09:00 a.m. – House opens; Perez announces no consideration of AI or vaccine bills.
- April 28, 12:00 p.m. – Senate passes AI bill again, 37-1.
- April 28, 02:00 p.m. – Senate declines to revisit vaccine exemption bill after House’s decision.
Provisions of the AI Bill and Vaccine Bill
- AI Bill of Rights: requires chatbot platforms to disclose AI status, share all child interactions with parents, limit usage time, and send alerts if a child expresses self-harm or violence. It also mandates disclosure of AI-generated political ads and bans state contracts with firms tied to “foreign countries of concern” such as China or Russia.
- Vaccine Bill (SB 1756): expands religious-conscience exemptions for K-12 school immunizations, makes the state’s definition of mRNA vaccines permanent, and permits pharmacists to sell ivermectin without a prescription.
Political and Policy Implications
The standoff highlights intra-party tension as DeSantis seeks a state-level AI framework while aligning with President Donald Trump’s executive order that centralizes AI policy at the federal level. A March 2026 NBC News poll found 57 % of voters view AI risks as outweighing benefits, with heightened concern among younger voters and women under 50. The outcome may influence national debates on whether regulation should be state-driven or federally coordinated.
Official Statements & Responses
DeSantis criticized the House as “typical political shenanigans” and urged legislators to protect children from “Big Tech” and the “medical industrial complex.” Perez argued the House could not act without a filed bill and pointed to the president’s executive order as evidence that AI regulation belongs in Washington. The Senate reiterated its support for the AI bill, while Attorney General Uthmeier announced ongoing probes of AI platforms linked to violent incidents. Rep. Garrison expressed hope that Congress will enact federal AI safeguards; Rep. Eskamani warned that industry influence may stall such action.
Criticism & Opposition
Sen. Grall condemned the House’s decision as a “show” and called for deeper discussion on tech accountability. Advocacy groups such as the Alliance for Secure AI and Humans First labeled the House’s move a setback for child safety. Democratic leader Fentrice Driskell noted mixed messages from House leadership but suggested possible future action. Pollster Micah Roberts highlighted public anxiety about AI’s impact on jobs, especially among younger voters and women.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
While the Senate passed the vaccine exemption bill 23-15 during the regular session, it did not advance the measure in the special session after the House’s refusal to consider it, leaving the bill’s status unresolved. No House-filed version of either proposal exists, creating a procedural gap that prevents further legislative debate.
Verbatim Quotes
- “voters elected Republicans to protect freedom against both the Big Tech cartel and the medical industrial complex.” — Gov. Ron DeSantis, Governor of Florida
- “Now is the time for choosing,” — Gov. Ron DeSantis, social-media post
- “They’re done because they know that this isn’t the right answer. We need to have more meaningful discussion about how to really hold tech accountable, and we can’t act like we can do it through mere regulation because we are not good enough at it.” — Sen. Erin Grall (R-Vero Beach)
- “I understand the governor’s concern of wanting to protect children. We want to protect children, too. He is not wrong for wanting that. I agree with him, with that sentiment,” — House Speaker Daniel Perez
- “I think that eventually you’re going to have some standard applied, whether it’s a federal standard or whether it’s one state standard dominating,” — JD Vance, U.S. Senator
What’s Next
The House will proceed with the redistricting vote on April 29, after which attention will shift to whether federal AI legislation emerges, as anticipated by both DeSantis and national Republicans. Should Congress act, Florida’s AI bill may become moot; otherwise, Perez’s stance leaves the state’s AI framework on hold pending future House leadership.
