(The Center Square) – The special session originally planned to kick off next week to address redrawing congressional districts has been delayed until April 28th with an expanded scope.
Second-term Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis amended the special session timeline and subject matter in a new proclamation Wednesday. It will now run from April 28 to May 1.
In addition to congressional redistricting, lawmakers will also discuss creating consumer protections for artificial intelligence and expanding medical freedom.
In a memorandum, Senate President Ben Albritton warned senators that “significant litigation” has historically followed the passing of new congressional maps.
“The Florida Supreme Court has previously limited the scope of legislative privilege when it comes to redistricting,” said Albritton. “Sitting legislators may be compelled to produce records or be subject to questioning under oath about conversations with colleagues, with legislative staff, or with outside parties who may attempt to persuade the Legislature to pass maps that favor or disfavor a political party or incumbent.”
Albritton told senators to avoid partisan-funded organizations or interests that might influence redistricting and follow records retention policies.
“Senators and staff should be mindful correspondence, emails, texts, and other electronic communications related to the enactment of new districts, whether sent or received on official Senate accounts or devices or personal email accounts or devices, may be of permanent or archival value and any such records should be preserved accordingly,” Albritton said.
The Senate will not be drafting a proposed redistricting map ahead of the special session, according to the memorandum. Instead, lawmakers are expecting a proposal from the governor’s office, which has yet to be released.
Meanwhile, senators are filing bills that are identical to two that passed the Senate during the regular session but failed to advance beyond that point.
In alignment with the expanded scope of the special session, The Medical Freedom Act and the Artificial Intelligence Bill of Rights will be up for discussion again.
The Medical Freedom Act would create a “conscience exemption” from K-12 school vaccine requirements and allow ivermectin to be sold behind the counter without a prescription. It would also require for health care providers to give parents specific material related to vaccines before administering them and when parents are applying for an exemption. Beyond that, it would ban discrimination based on a person’s mRNA vaccination and prevent forced vaccinations during emergencies.
The Artificial Intelligence Bill of Rights, which was championed by DeSantis, creates safeguards for children and addresses consumer transparency.
