DeSantis Asserts Florida’s Authority to Regulate AI Amidst Trump’s Executive Order

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a Republican, asserted on Monday that state officials retain the authority to regulate artificial intelligence, despite President Trump’s recent executive order aimed at establishing a national AI standard. This standard, according to Trump, would supersede state laws.

During a speech at Florida Atlantic University, DeSantis emphasized that Trump’s order does not prevent states from implementing their own AI regulations. “The president issued an executive order. Some people were saying, ‘Well no, this blocks the states,'” the governor remarked. “It doesn’t.”

He elaborated, stating, “You should read it and see. First of all, an executive order can’t block states. You can preempt states under Article 1 powers through congressional legislation on certain issues, but you can’t do it through executive order.”

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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said state officials have the right to regulate artificial intelligence despite President Trump’s recent executive order. (Pedro Portal/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

While DeSantis acknowledged that Trump’s order does not inhibit state regulations, he pointed out that Florida’s proposed rules align closely with the federal guidelines being pursued by the White House. “If you read it, they actually say a lot of the stuff we’re talking about are things that they’re encouraging states to do,” he noted. “So even reading it very broadly, I think the stuff we’re doing is going to be very consistent. But irrespective, clearly we have a right to do this.”

Last week, DeSantis unveiled a proposal for a “Citizen Bill of Rights for Artificial Intelligence,” aimed at safeguarding consumers from the potential risks and harms associated with AI technologies.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order to create a national AI standard. (Ken Cedeno / Reuters)

The proposal includes several protective measures, such as prohibiting AI from using an individual’s name, image, or likeness without consent, safeguarding against deepfakes, and implementing various restrictions to protect children.

DeSantis also addressed concerns from supporters of Trump’s order who fear that AI regulations could be enacted by Democrat-led states. He mentioned the possibility of the Justice Department pursuing legal challenges to block state laws under the Dormant Commerce Clause, which restricts states from enacting laws that discriminate against interstate commerce. “I don’t know how successful that would be, but the reality is, I don’t anticipate that even happening against the stuff we’re doing in Florida,” he stated. “But if it does, I think we would be well positioned to prevail on that.”

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Gov. Ron DeSantis said President Donald Trump’s order does not block states from adopting their own AI regulations. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)

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In recent months, GOP lawmakers on Capitol Hill have made attempts to pass measures that would prevent state AI regulations. These efforts have been made twice in the past six months through Trump’s spending bill during the summer and the National Defense Authorization Act last month. However, both attempts failed due to a lack of consensus among lawmakers.

Trump has contended that requiring AI companies to seek approval from all 50 states would be burdensome, a sentiment echoed by AI firms. “There must be only One Rulebook if we are going to continue to lead in AI,” the president stated on social media last week before signing the order. “We are beating ALL COUNTRIES at this point in the race, but that won’t last long if we are going to have 50 States, many of them bad actors, involved in RULES and the APPROVAL PROCESS.”

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a Republican, asserted on Monday that state officials retain the authority to regulate artificial intelligence, despite President Trump’s recent executive order aimed at establishing a national AI standard. This standard, according to Trump, would supersede state laws.

During a speech at Florida Atlantic University, DeSantis emphasized that Trump’s order does not prevent states from implementing their own AI regulations. “The president issued an executive order. Some people were saying, ‘Well no, this blocks the states,'” the governor remarked. “It doesn’t.”

He elaborated, stating, “You should read it and see. First of all, an executive order can’t block states. You can preempt states under Article 1 powers through congressional legislation on certain issues, but you can’t do it through executive order.”

TRUMP SAYS HE WILL SIGN ‘ONE RULE’ EXECUTIVE ORDER TO FEDERALIZE AI REGULATION

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said state officials have the right to regulate artificial intelligence despite President Trump’s recent executive order. (Pedro Portal/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

While DeSantis acknowledged that Trump’s order does not inhibit state regulations, he pointed out that Florida’s proposed rules align closely with the federal guidelines being pursued by the White House. “If you read it, they actually say a lot of the stuff we’re talking about are things that they’re encouraging states to do,” he noted. “So even reading it very broadly, I think the stuff we’re doing is going to be very consistent. But irrespective, clearly we have a right to do this.”

Last week, DeSantis unveiled a proposal for a “Citizen Bill of Rights for Artificial Intelligence,” aimed at safeguarding consumers from the potential risks and harms associated with AI technologies.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order to create a national AI standard. (Ken Cedeno / Reuters)

The proposal includes several protective measures, such as prohibiting AI from using an individual’s name, image, or likeness without consent, safeguarding against deepfakes, and implementing various restrictions to protect children.

DeSantis also addressed concerns from supporters of Trump’s order who fear that AI regulations could be enacted by Democrat-led states. He mentioned the possibility of the Justice Department pursuing legal challenges to block state laws under the Dormant Commerce Clause, which restricts states from enacting laws that discriminate against interstate commerce. “I don’t know how successful that would be, but the reality is, I don’t anticipate that even happening against the stuff we’re doing in Florida,” he stated. “But if it does, I think we would be well positioned to prevail on that.”

GOOGLE CEO CALLS FOR NATIONAL AI REGULATION TO COMPETE WITH CHINA MORE EFFECTIVELY

Gov. Ron DeSantis said President Donald Trump’s order does not block states from adopting their own AI regulations. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)

GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE

In recent months, GOP lawmakers on Capitol Hill have made attempts to pass measures that would prevent state AI regulations. These efforts have been made twice in the past six months through Trump’s spending bill during the summer and the National Defense Authorization Act last month. However, both attempts failed due to a lack of consensus among lawmakers.

Trump has contended that requiring AI companies to seek approval from all 50 states would be burdensome, a sentiment echoed by AI firms. “There must be only One Rulebook if we are going to continue to lead in AI,” the president stated on social media last week before signing the order. “We are beating ALL COUNTRIES at this point in the race, but that won’t last long if we are going to have 50 States, many of them bad actors, involved in RULES and the APPROVAL PROCESS.”