Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is pushing state lawmakers to pursue a plan to limit uses of AI, and a plan to address the end of Affordable Care Act subsidies begins.
DeSantis moves forward with state AI push
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said he wants the state to move forward with artificial intelligence policies during a roundtable discussion in Jupiter on Monday.
This is the first time the governor has commented on the issue since President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at limiting states’ ability to pass AI regulations.
DeSantis said that regardless, Florida will move forward, and he believes any action state lawmakers take would survive federal scrutiny.
“We’re not going to waive any state rights. Now the president issued an executive order, and some people were saying, ‘Well, no, that stops states from doing it,'” DeSantis said. “If you read it and see, first of all, an executive order cannot block the states. You can preempt the states under Article 1 through Congressional legislation on certain issues, but you can’t do it through an executive order. But if you read it, they’re actually saying a lot of the things we’re talking about are things they’re encouraging the states to do. They’re saying it doesn’t prevent the safety of children. It doesn’t prevent any of that. So even reading it very broadly, I think what we are it will be very consistent. But regardless, we clearly have the right to do it.
DeSantis has outlined a few policy proposals he wants lawmakers to tackle.
- Data centers should not be funded by taxpayer dollars or tax breaks.
- State and local governments should be banned from using Chinese AI data.
- No use of a person’s name, image or likeness in AI form without that person’s consent.
- Transparency for consumers when interacting with AI technology.
- Parental control over what their children can and cannot access using AI.
DeSantis also wants to prohibit AI companies from selling or sharing personally identifiable information with third-party entities.
He also said he wants to ensure that AI cannot be used as the sole determining factor for adjusting or denying insurance claims.
The outlined plan would also prohibit any entity from using AI chatbots in the role of licensed therapy or mental health counseling.
It will now be up to the Florida Legislature to introduce and pass a plan to make these goals a reality.
It is unclear whether such a plan would be allowed to proceed, as Trump’s executive order requires the U.S. attorney general to challenge any state AI laws that are inconsistent with his executive order.
That means Attorney General Pam Bondi could end up suing her home state if the White House believes Florida has gone too far in regulating AI.
Florida Republicans discuss health care plan
As the debate over Obamacare subsidies continues in Congress, Florida is expected to be the hardest hit state if the Affordable Care Act subsidies expire at the end of the year.
The debate in Washington is a consequence of the recent government shutdown, during which lawmakers pledged to debate the issue before the end of the year.
Added to this, polls show that affordability is among voters’ top concerns heading into the 2026 midterm elections.
According to KFF, a nonpartisan, nonprofit think tank, Florida is home to about 4.7 million people enrolled under the Affordable Care Act.
KFF estimates that policyholders could, on average, see their premiums increase by around 75%.
So, for example, someone who currently pays $50 per month could end up paying almost $90 per month.
It’s a new reality that some Floridians are already facing.
“I know I’m not alone,” Winter Garden resident Lynnette Bidwell said. “Many people in Florida and across the country are being cut out of their plans, losing longtime doctors, and facing the emotional and physical consequences of disrupted care.”
That leaves residents with three possible options: pay the new rates, switch to a cheaper coverage plan, or drop health coverage altogether.
Florida already ranks third in the nation for most uninsured residents, according to the University of Miami.
Many Republicans in Washington remain opposed to any form of extension.
State governments have several options, including expanding Medicaid, or they could offer a subsidy at the state level.
None of these options appear to be on the table in Florida.
Two of the signature bills in the upcoming legislative session do indeed address health care: Parliamentary Bill 695 And Parliamentary Bill 693.
Florida House Speaker Danny Perez called the two bills a new frontier in health care in Florida.
The plan is more of a long-term solution, seeking to stimulate the private market by reducing drug costs and easing regulations.
At the same time, they tightened rules on welfare programs and tightened eligibility for things like Medicaid and food stamps.