Florida’s AI Policy at the Ballot Box

Candidates, the Legislative Record, and the State-to-State Divide

As Florida heads toward the November 3, 2026, general election, artificial intelligence is becoming a more visible issue in state politics. The debate is no longer limited to innovation or the future of work. It increasingly involves children’s safety, consumer protection, data-center development, utility costs, water resources, and the appropriate role of government in regulating emerging technology. Florida’s recent legislative record provides one starting point for understanding the debate. The 2026 Legislature considered an AI Bill of Rights and other AI-related measures, but several proposals did not become law. Separately, the state enacted legislation addressing data centers and large electricity users. The gubernatorial candidates have also offered differing approaches to data-center development and AI’s broader social and economic effects.

For lawyers, businesses, public officials, and others working in this space, the election presents a practical question: which policy choices are already reflected in Florida law, which remain proposals, and which candidates have publicly committed to changing the state’s approach? This issue reviews Florida’s recent legislative record, the documented positions of the major-party gubernatorial candidates, the roles of other statewide offices and the Legislature, and selected approaches in California and Texas. It distinguishes enacted law from failed legislation and candidate proposals, and does not infer a candidate’s position from party affiliation or from another official’s actions.