A diorama of the State Capitol found at LEGOLAND, located in Winter Haven. Photo courtesy of Todd Fowler, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Flickr.
New legislation goes into effect on July 1.
–
By Nicole Droeger Stephens
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The 2026 Florida Legislative Session started its 60-day session on Jan. 13. State lawmakers convene to vote on new laws. Recent bills the legislature has passed include topics of firearm accessibility and artificial intelligence.
House Bill 133 lowers the minimum age to purchase a firearm from 21 to 18. An analysis from the Judiciary Committee states that citizens 18 and older will be able to purchase long guns, such as shotguns and rifles, from a federal firearms licensee (FFL), but may only purchase handguns from private sellers. The FFL will require the minimum age of 21 to purchase a handgun.
Jack Labolle, a senior communication and speech studies major at The University of Tampa, believes the new age requirement is appropriate.
“If a young man or woman can serve their country, learn how to operate it [a firearm] and take proper classes, I think it’s completely fine.”
Artificial intelligence faces an overhaul in legislation. Senate Bill 482 will expand consumer protection when interacting with AI chatbots. According to a written statement provided by the Committee on Commerce and Tourism, safeguards will be implemented to prohibit minors from interacting with chatbots unless permission is granted by a parent or guardian.
The bill will also require chatbot companies to provide disclosure statements and reminders to consumers that it is not human. Finally, personal data and information collected by chatbot software cannot be shared without the consumer’s knowledge or approval.
Jeffrey Neely, associate professor of journalism at UTampa, who is also a parent, believes the legislation barring minors is unnecessary.
“Educate about media literacy, how to work with AI, and how it can be useful,” Neely said. “I do think there needs to be government policy applied to tech companies, but I don’t think trying to wall off the consumer is the right way to go.”
He approves of the legislation on AI data sharing.
“Our data is shared, and we are complicit in that when we agree to the user license, but more transparency would be good; anything to help rein in the sharing of data.”
The 2026 Florida Legislative Session will continue until March 13. Bills that pass through the legislature go into effect on July 1.
For more information, visit the official Florida Legislature website at leg.state.fl.us.