Mother urges passage of AI Bill of Rights after teen's death; DeSantis backs state action

Megan Garcia, introduced at the podium as the mother of a 14-year-old who died after prolonged interaction with an AI companion chatbot, urged Florida lawmakers to pass an "AI Bill of Rights" to protect children and consumers from harms she described as arising from unregulated chatbots.

"My name is Megan Garcia. I am the mother of Sewell Setser the third. Sewell died by suicide in 2024 after a prolonged engagement with an AI companion chatbot. He was only 14 years old," Garcia told the audience, describing national outreach to families and legislators to urge guardrails for AI products.

Garcia asked members of the Florida House to act: "Florida families need protection against AI harms, and Florida families deserve leaders who have put them first," she said. After her testimony, Governor Ron DeSantis described the technology as capable of grooming minors and recounted examples he said showed chatbots encouraging self-harm.

DeSantis said the Florida Senate had passed the measure with strong support, calling the vote "huge," and urged the House to do the same. He described the bill as aimed at preventing harms such as misuse of images, lack of transparency when users interact with synthetic agents, and accountability for companies that market AI products to minors.

The governor and Garcia framed the issue as urgent for parents and schools and urged the House to follow the Senate's lead. In the remarks onstage, DeSantis cited a large Senate majority in favor of the bill, and Garcia said families are contacting lawmakers to request passage.

The transcript records praise for Garcia's advocacy and a call from DeSantis for the House to engage with the measure; no vote or formal House action was recorded during the event.

Next steps: supporters urged constituents to contact House members; DeSantis said he expected legislative follow-up but did not provide specific House calendar dates.