Special Session D Focuses on Redistricting. Artificial Intelligence and Medical Freedom Not Considered in House



This week, the Florida Legislature convened Special Session D to address a limited set of issues outlined in the Governor DeSantis’ proclamation, including Congressional redistricting, an Artificial Intelligence Bill of Rights, and medical freedom policies. While the Senate filed legislation on artificial intelligence and medical freedom, the House did not take up those issues during the special session, and no final action was taken.

Senate President Ben Albritton and House Speaker Daniel Perez announced that the Legislature has reached agreement on joint budget allocations for FY 2026–27 and will convene a Special Session on the Budget from May 12—29, 2026. Both leaders emphasized that the agreed-upon framework reflects a continued effort to reduce overall state spending compared to the current fiscal year, while prioritizing core services such as education, health care, and public safety.



The special session will follow a structured and expedited timeline. Budget conference committees are authorized to meet May 12–15, during which time differences between the chambers will be negotiated. Any unresolved issues will be “bumped” at the end of that period. Legislators are then expected to return after Memorial Day to consider and vote on the final conference report for final passage. The House indicated that the implementing bills will be identical to those passed during Regular Session, suggesting that the focus of the special session will be finalizing specific budget line items rather than revisiting underlying policy decisions.

Tune in to this week’s Capital Recap for a quick overview of Special Session D, including congressional redistricting and the upcoming budget special session timeline. 

The Legislature passed HB 1D on Congressional Redistricting sending the new maps to the Governor for final approval. The proposed congressional map, produced by the Governor’s office, reflects a mid-decade redraw based on population changes and shifts across the state. The plan purports to achieve near-perfect population equality across districts and includes multiple county and municipal splits as part of the overall configuration.



While redistricting does not change county authority, it will require Supervisors of Elections to update precinct boundaries, voter registration systems, and ballots ahead of upcoming elections. Counties may incur administrative costs related to implementation and voter outreach. Redistricting outcomes may also affect federal representation, which could influence future federal funding and advocacy priorities for counties.