Governor Ron DeSantis has publicly accused Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez of prioritizing a “personal agenda” over voter expectations during the state’s recent legislative session. DeSantis claimed Perez deliberately refused to advance two key bills—medical freedom legislation and an AI Bill of Rights—despite their passage by the Senate in the regular session.
“The reason they didn’t do it is because he is not governing in the best interest of the people of the state of Florida. He has a personal agenda,” DeSantis stated, adding that Perez’s actions contradicted what voters expect from public servants. The governor cited Perez’s refusal to consider “medical freedom” legislation and the AI Bill of Rights during last month’s congressional reapportionment Special Session as evidence of a shift in leadership priorities.
DeSantis noted that Senate President Ben Albritton, whom he described as a “friend” and “good guy,” worked collaboratively with him during previous legislative sessions. He contrasted this with the current House leadership, asserting: “Look at the six years leading up to this. We were more productive than any time in the history of the state of Florida legislatively.”
The governor emphasized that Florida’s House members failed to file bills supporting medical freedom—a measure backed by DeSantis and Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo—which would have allowed parents to refuse childhood vaccines, mandated disclosure of vaccine risks by healthcare providers, made ivermectin available over the counter, and banned discrimination based on mRNA vaccination status.
DeSantis also criticized the House for not advancing an AI Bill of Rights that would prohibit companion chatbots from interacting with minors without parental consent and require artificial intelligence systems to identify themselves as non-human. He stated the Senate passed this legislation by a 37-1 vote, citing polls showing 86% of Floridians support AI regulations such as those provisions.
“The Speaker said, ‘Nobody filed a bill on this so we can’t move forward,’” DeSantis remarked last month. “Now, do you believe nobody filed a bill, or were they told not to file a bill? So, he’s basically throwing his members under the bus…”
DeSantis argued that Florida House leadership has blocked critical legislation despite clear public support for both medical freedom and AI safeguards, undermining the state’s legislative leadership.
