Florida's Latest News

Vern Buchanan, Darren Soto Introduce Bill Combating AI Impersonation Scams

Representatives Vern Buchanan (R-FL) and Darren Soto (D-FL) have introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation combating the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in online impersonation scams.

The AI Fraud Accountability Act addresses a growing concern: AI can create highly realistic deepfakes of people and their voices, which can easily be used to perpetrate scams and other forms of malfeasance.

As a result, Reps. Buchanan and Soto's bill would not only make posing as another person through the use of AI for fraudulent purposes illegal, but it also subjects the impersonator to criminal penalties, such as prison time, fines, and forfeiture of proceeds, enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

"As artificial intelligence becomes more advanced, criminals are exploiting it to scam hardworking Americans," Buchanan said in a statement. "We are seeing a disturbing rise in AI-generated voice clones and deepfake videos that convincingly impersonate loved ones, business executives, government officials, and trusted institutions to steal money."

Americans for Prosperity Action Endorses Byron Donalds for Governor

Americans for Prosperity Action announced its endorsement of Congressman and Florida gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds (R-FL) for governor by praising his commitment to economic freedom and small government.

"I'm excited to say that today we are going to be announcing our endorsement of Congressman Byron Donalds for Florida's next governor," said Skyler Zander, senior advisor for Americans for Prosperity Action, in a video released on social media.

"Congressman Donalds has done incredible work, not only in D.C., but also here in Florida, and we're proud to stand behind him. He worked with President Trump to pass the Working Families Tax Cut, which is gonna bring real relief to Floridians, and I'm excited to see him as our next governor," Zander added.

The Working Families Tax Cut was part of President Trump's "One Big, Beautiful Bill," signed in July 2025. Provisions of the bill included eliminating federal taxes on tips and overtime and expanding the Child Tax Credit.

Legislature passes DCF bill to prevent child separations based on false abuse accusations

Parents of children with rare disorders that cause injuries resembling physical abuse will have added safeguards against government-imposed separations under a bill the Legislature just enacted.

Two days after the House unanimously passed the measure (HB 47), Senators voted 34-0 to make it law. The bill will next go to Gov. Ron DeSantis, who can sign it, allow it to become law without his signature or veto it.

It’s unlikely he’ll do the latter.

HB 47 revises Florida’s protective investigation procedures when a child has certain preexisting medical diagnoses, including Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, rickets, osteogenesis imperfecta and vitamin D deficiency.

It allows the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to delay immediately referring certain criminal allegations to law enforcement if a parent reports one of those diagnoses or requests a qualifying medical exam, but requires referral after the investigation if criminal conduct is still alleged.

House passes HOA bill allowing owners to dissolve Boards, clarifying dispute resolution paths

Legislation designed to overhaul how condo and homeowners association (HOA) disputes are resolved — described by its sponsor, Miami Republican Rep. Juan Porras, as the largest reform bill of its kind — just won overwhelming House approval.

It’s now on the way to the Senate, where its upper-chamber analogue has been less successful in advancing this Session.

House members voted 108-2 for the measure (HB 657), which would make numerous changes to Florida laws governing community associations, including HOAs, condominiums and cooperative associations, to increase transparency, strengthen oversight and provide new mechanisms to resolve disputes.

Porras called HOAs, in their current form, “a failed experiment” that have “run amok” due to wide regulatory loopholes currently in state statutes.

“We have allowed, for too long in this chamber, to have a lack of complete oversight over what I believe is the smallest yet most powerful form of government,” he said. “This bill is just the first step in reaching that much-needed transparency and accountability for over half our state, and for the first time, people are going to have a real voice.”