Weekly Legislative Update from February 20, 2026
Week 6 of the 2026 Legislative Session has concluded, with committee activity accelerating as leadership begins positioning priority bills for the final stretch before budget conferencing. The Senate continued to move several high-profile policy bills, including revisions to artificial intelligence regulations and data center development. Both sponsors adopted amendments aimed at narrowing the scope and addressing stakeholder concerns, but industry is still concerned over each piece of legislation. Meanwhile, budget negotiations are beginning to sharpen around economic development funding, infrastructure, and property tax relief, setting the stage for more discussions in weeks ahead.
AIF 2026 Session Week 6 Legislative Priority Issues
Data Centers: This week, the Senate continued the discussion around data center's future in Florida.Data Centers are a key aspect for the future of the digital age in America and AIF has been engaged in the conversation in Florida. As bills restricting development and use of data centers on state soil continue to be discussed, AIF has taken the position that responsible data center implementation in the state should be a top priority for the economic development of the future. Responsible guardrails are always necessary in any legislative proposal, but stifling innovation can lead to negative impacts statewide, especially economically.
Artificial Intelligence (AI): Along the same lines as data centers, artificial intelligence continues to be an important emerging technology in every American’s life. With increased use and application, AI has the ability to transform the business community and allow for increased productivity of employees, users and developers all at same time. Important safeguards are necessary, but overbearing policy can affect millions of users if legislation is not crafted with careful intent. AIF will continue to work with the Florida business community and legislators to ensure that any AI policy is responsible and intentional.
Agriculture: Thursday, February 19th, SB 290 – Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services by Senator Keith Truenow (R-Tavares) was read for a final time on the Senate Floor and subsequently passed with 28 Yays and 0 Nays. AIF stood in support of this legislation and will continue to work to protect our farmers throughout the state, especially against misconceptions that harm business practices throughout Florida.
Growth Management: As Florida continues to attract new residents at record levels and housing prices keep climbing, the need for responsible, well-planned growth has never been more urgent. Meeting this demand requires policies that encourage timely, efficient development so communities can expand without driving affordability further out of reach. Too often, however, local governments respond by increasing fees, layering on regulatory hurdles, and adding bureaucratic red tape that can slow, discourage, or even halt construction projects altogether. These actions not only delay much-needed housing and infrastructure, but also push costs higher for families, workers, and businesses across the state. AIF will remain committed to defending private property rights and protecting lawful development, ensuring these principles remain central to every policy discussion surrounding local regulations and growth management, so Florida can continue to grow in a way that is sustainable, affordable, and economically strong. See below for the numerous bills related to growth management that AIF supported this week.
News AIF is Reading
AIF Endorses Ashley Moody for U.S. Senate
AIF: Florida voters support building data centers
Data centers as tax relief? Florida voters say yes
Florida Senate AI bills advance to the floor
Nuclear Option: Byron Donalds sees path for AI data centers
Senate President Ben Albritton: Week 6 Session Update
House Speaker Danny Perez: Week 6 floor remarks
Week in Review
SB 290 – Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
On Thursday, February 20, SB 290 by Senator Keith Truenow (R-Tavares) was read for a final time on the Senate Floor and subsequently passed with 28 Yays and 0 Nays. AIF stood in support of this legislation.
This bill enhances Florida’s approach on regulating the agriculture industry. The bill creates the Farmers Feeding Florida Program to ensure native, local ingredients are broadly available around the state. The bill also preempts local governments from passing ordinances that prohibit or restrict gas-powered equipment used on lawns or agricultural lands.
SB 290 will now go to the House for further consideration.
AIF supports promoting Florida’s agricultural community and protecting those who choose to work on agriculture lands from unfair local ordinances that can change business practices and make working lands unaffordable.
HB 691 - Agricultural Enclaves
On Tuesday, February 17, HB 691 by Representative Adam Botana (R-Bonita Springs) was heard by the House State Affairs Committee and was reported favorably. AIF stood in support of this legislation.
HB 691 significantly expands and clarifies Florida’s agricultural enclave framework by creating a faster, more predictable pathway for certain agriculturally used parcels surrounded by development to transition to residential use, while limiting local government discretion. The bill allows qualifying landowners to seek certification as an agricultural enclave, imposes firm timelines on local governments to act, and provides automatic approval if deadlines are missed, along with judicial review if an application is denied.
HB 691 will now go to the House Floor for consideration.
AIF supports responsible growth by allowing limited, well-planned development on land surrounded by existing infrastructure to help ease the housing shortage in Florida.
SB 484 – Data Centers
On Tuesday, February 17, SB 484 by Senator Bryan Avila (R-Hialeah Gardens) was heard by the Senate Rules Committee and was reported favorably. AIF spoke for information only.
Senate Bill 484 establishes a comprehensive regulatory framework for large-scale data centers and other large electric load customers in Florida, focusing on transparency, local land-use authority, utility ratepayer protections, and water resource management. Additionally, the bill creates detailed permitting standards for large-scale data centers’ water use, emphasizing conservation, reclaimed water utilization, public hearings, and protection of Florida’s water resources. The bill also prohibits government agencies from entering into nondisclosure agreements that limit public disclosure of data center developments.
SB 484 will now go to the Senate Floor for consideration.
AIF supports most of the language throughout SB 484 as it sets reasonable guardrails and direction for the development of a data center in Florida. AIF does have concerns regarding a portion of the language limiting NDA use. NDA's, or Non-Disclosure Agreements, especially in the pre-development stages of large projects, are extremely important in protecting proprietary information. AIF will continue to work with the sponsor to improve the bill and continue to push pro-business policies for Florida.
HB 951 – One-Cent Piece
On Wednesday, February 18, HB 951 by Senator Don Gaetz (R-Pensacola) was heard by the Senate Appropriations Committee and was reported favorably. AIF stood in support of this legislation.
This bill clarifies the rounding rules for cash change in the future after the Federal Government halted production of the penny. Depending on the change owed, the business may round up or down to avoid using a penny.
SB 1074 will now go to the Senate Floor for consideration.
AIF supports clarifying language in Florida Statutes for the business community to follow while dispensing cash change. As the penny becomes less common, making sure the state has clear and concise procedures will become increasingly important.
SB 1074 – One-Cent Piece
On Thursday, February 12, SB 1074 by Senator Don Gaetz (R-Pensacola) was heard by the Senate Finance and Tax Committee and was reported favorably. AIF stood in support of this legislation.
This bill clarifies the rounding rules for cash change in the future after the Federal Government stopped production of the penny. Depending on the change owed, the business may round up or down to avoid using a penny.
SB 1074 will now go to the Senate Appropriations Committee for consideration.
AIF supports clarifying language in Florida Statutes for the business community to follow while dispensing cash change. As the penny becomes less common, making sure the state has clear and concise procedures will become increasingly important.
SB 482 – Artificial Intelligence Bill of Rights
On Wednesday, February 18, SB 482 by Senator Tom Leek (R-Ormond Beach) was heard by the Senate Appropriations Committee and was reported favorably. AIF stood in opposition to this legislation.
SB 482 creates the “Artificial Intelligence Bill of Rights” to protect consumers, especially minors, when using AI chatbots and similar platforms. It requires chatbot companies to get parental consent before allowing minors to create or keep accounts, gives parents control over those accounts, and mandates that companies permanently delete a child’s personal data if the account is closed. Platforms must also clearly tell users they are interacting with artificial intelligence, not human, and remind them regularly, including through pop-up messages during conversations. Companies must also take reasonable steps to prevent chatbots from sharing harmful content with minors. Additionally, AI companies are prohibited from selling or sharing users’ personal information, unless it has been stripped of identifying information.
SB 482 will now go to the Senate Floor for consideration.
AIF appreciates the sponsor for initiating the discussion on AI policy but opposes SB 482 as drafted. In its current form, the bill presents concerns related to overbroad scope, privacy risks from age-verification mandates, duplicative compliance requirements, and expanded litigation exposure that could create uncertainty for Florida businesses. AIF does appreciate the progress reflected in the amendment and looks forward to continuing to address remaining concerns.
AIF Past Endorsements
