Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More
Continue in Browser
Get hyperlocal forecasts, radar and weather alerts.
Please enter a valid zipcode.
Save
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced an investigation into a group working to put marijuana back on the ballot, and an AI bill of rights clears first hurdle in the Florida Senate.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier says he will subpoena the group trying to get recreational marijuana on the 2026 ballot.
The investigation will look into the group Smart and Safe Florida, and will focus on alleged fraud related to petitions needed to bring the issue to a vote.
Uthmeier released a statement on the matter.
“Recently obtained documents show that Smart and Safe Florida knew about dozens of fraudsters turning in over 21,000 petitions and failed to inform law enforcement,” he said.
Recently obtained documents show that Smart & Safe Florida knew about dozens of fraudsters turning in over 21,000 petitions and failed to inform law enforcement.
Florida’s Constitution is not for sale, and we will not allow a mega marijuana corporation to hijack our state’s… pic.twitter.com/c7gSxqeLLg
A spokesperson for Smart & Safe Florida says they reported any discrepancies found to the secretary of state per Florida law.
Florida took its first step Wednesday toward implementing new safeguards around the use of artificial intelligence.
The Florida Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee advanced SB 482 unanimously at the Capitol early Wednesday. The bill will now head to the Appropriations Committee for consideration.
The measure is a priority of Gov. Ron DeSantis. Florida’s flagship proposal would create new AI protections tailored specifically for young children.
“It is purposely and deliberately targeted at those protections. And not the world, the universe of things that could be done,” State Sen. Tom Leek said.
Under the measure, AI access for minors would require parental consent. Platforms would also need to moderate content for them.
“We have a responsibility to ensure that new technologies develop in ways that are moral and ethical, in ways that reinforce our American values, not in ways that erode them,” DeSantis said.
It’s a bipartisan effort, though many stakeholders still want to see the bill include more consumer protections.
“Stop surveillance, pricing, wage manipulation and rent collusion that’s driven by algorithms. These are all things that we could do. They’re not future problems. These are issues and challenges that are already here,” State Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith said.
There are also calls in Tallahassee to protect Florida’s workers. According to the World Economic Forum, roughly 40 percent of employers are considering workforce reductions thanks to AI.
“We want to make sure that there is a regulatory framework in place to take care of the workers. This is a great consumer protection beginning. But what about workers?” Legislative and Political Director of AFL-CIO Rich Templin said.
Meanwhile, there’s an ongoing national discussion about should lead on AI policy.
In December, President Donald Trump issued an executive order, trying to limit AI regulation at the state level.
“We have the big investment coming. But if they had to get 50 different approvals from 50 different states, you can forget it because it’s not possible to do, especially if you have some hostile actor. All you need is one hostile actor and you wouldn’t be able to do it,” Trump said.
DeSantis previously said Florida has a right to regulate AI, and he believes the proposal will be in line with what the White House wants to do at a federal level.
Now, this bill does include some consumer protections. It would require disclosure whenever someone is chatting with an AI bot. It also empowers someone to sue if an AI platform uses their name, image and likeness without their consent.