Florida Senate half-heartedly agrees to final OK for weakened data center bill

The Florida Senate on Friday half-heartedly voted final approaval of a greatly weakened version of a data center regulation bill backed by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

It will head to his desk for the governor’s signature into law.

Although the bill, SB 484, would still ensure that AI data center companies pay for their own utilities — not nearby ratepayers — the version approved Friday would allow state agencies to sign non-disclosure agreements with these companies.

That means these businesses can keep secret from the public their plans to locate or expand in Florida for a year. This is a far weaker bill than the one pushed by DeSantis, a leading AI cautionary. He wanted strict regulations to increase transparency and to prevent these companies from taking over Florida’s financial and environmental resources. 

Even the Senate bill sponsor, Republican Bryan Avila of Miami Springs, was leery of the new SB 484 created by the House earlier this week. He still encouraged positive votes, but acknowledged there may be constitutional problems.

“NDAs need to be part of a broader conversation — possibly next session — because certainly there are some potential constitutional questions as it relates to NDAs and our sunshine laws,” Avila said.

Senators voted for the bill, 31-6, with most acknowledging that Avila’s original bill banning these NDAs was “better” than the final version.

“Your bill was so superior,” Republican Sen. Gayle Harrell of Stuart said. “The NDAs are a problem, there’s no doubt. … I support this bill; your bill was much better.”

“It’s better than having nothing,” Democratic Sen. Tracie Davis of Jacksonville echoed.

SB 484’s final form emerged following conversations between the Florida House and the pro-AI White House, Florida Politics reported. President Donald Trump, like most Republicans, has embraced the expansion of artificial intelligence. The Department of Defense used AI to both capture Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro and to carry out strikes in Iran.

Its provisions include a requirement that the Florida Office Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability study the construction and operation of data centers — warehouses designed for large-scale artificial intelligence processors — and submit its findings to the governor, Senate president, and House speaker by July 1, 2027.

Florida’s Public Service Commission must ensure data centers pay for their own utilities, not the general body of ratepayers, and the bill allows local governments to retain authority to regulate land development with respect to data center companies.