Byron Donalds Says Parents, Florida Should Lead Regulation of AI

Byron Donalds Says Parents, Florida Should Lead Regulation of AI

Grayson Bakich
Grayson Bakich
February 17, 2026

In a recent appearance on Fox Business' Kudlow, Representative Byron Donalds (R-FL) discussed the development of artificial intelligence (AI) and its regulation, saying that parents and the state of Florida should lead decision-making.

Rep. Donalds, who is running for Florida governor, has received significant backing from the AI-focused super PAC Leading the Future. The super PAC has donated $5 million in campaign contributions to his campaign.

"I believe that Florida must have a plan and strategy for how AI is going to move through our state going forward into the future," Rep. Donalds commented, noting that "the number one thing we have to do is make sure that we are protecting children and that parents are fully aware of what their children are doing with AI tools."

He suggested that every new innovation "led to a larger economic pie" that more Americans can take advantage of, even as the specific challenges of AI development include preventing utility cost hikes and environmental stewardship through data center development.

Donalds also shared his thoughts on whether Congress and individual states should work together on AI laws concerning intellectual property, deepfakes, and other concerns that are "scaring a lot of people."

He acknowledged the necessity, even as disagreements on federal versus state-level laws are taking place, adding, "I think that at the state level, we do have a responsibility to make sure parents are at the head of the table when it comes to AI, or anything dealing with their children, for that matter."

"one thing must also be clear: we have a responsibility to set clear guardrails for what the future wave of our economy looks like," he concluded. "This is one of the reasons why I think Florida needs to lead on this issue. I do not want to see California or New York or Illinois on this issue; we already know they make dumb decisions."

Grayson Bakich

Grayson Bakich

Grayson Bakich is a Florida and Arizona legislative correspondent for The Floridian and Cactus Politics, specializing in national and state-level politics. With three years' experience covering federal Florida, and Arizona politics, they have been cited by NewsBreak, SGT Report, Lucianne.com, and Cause Action. Email: [email protected]

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