Although the Florida Legislature passed a new congressional map in its special session this week, Gov. Ron DeSantis levied criticism at lawmakers for failing to introduce legislation to “protect freedom against both the Big Tech cartel and the medical industrial complex.”
“Yet, when given the chance to deliver for their constituents, not a single Republican House member could even be bothered to file a bill. Typical political shenanigans,” DeSantis said.
“Special Session Shakeup: FL House Speaker @Daniel_PerezFL says @myflhouse will vote on
@GovRonDeSantis’ proposed maps tomorrow and will then be free to go home. Says no bills on AI and vaccines were filed, so House will not take up the issues,” Action News Jax reporter Jake Stofan said.
Voters elected Republicans to protect freedom against both the Big Tech cartel and the medical industrial complex.
Yet, when given the chance to deliver for their constituents, not a single Republican House member could even be bothered to file a bill.
Typical political… https://t.co/Yme3cbFVUI
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) April 28, 2026
Florida Politics explained further:
After House Speaker Daniel Perez said he won’t take up a “medical freedom” bill during the current Special Session, Senate Rules Chair Kathleen Passidomo said she would temporarily postpone consideration of the legislation with the path closed in the House.
The Senate passed the bill during the Regular Session, but not without Republican qualms.
The bill would require informed consent from parents about vaccines before administering, immunizing doctors from penalties and liability if they give out ivermectin and allowing pharmacists to do the same upon request. The proposal would also allow a “conscience-based objection” to childhood inoculations and ban on discrimination based on a person’s mRNA vaccination status. It would also protect Floridians from forced vaccinations during emergencies.
The legislation, sponsored by Jacksonville Sen. Clay Yarborough, is a priority of Gov. Ron DeSantis, with whom Yarborough has aligned over the years.
DeSantis attempted to whip the House into passing it ahead of the Special Session.
“Florida’s House leadership just blocked a sweeping medical freedom bill. This bill would have: Allowed parents to refuse childhood vaccines. Required healthcare providers to inform parents of vaccine risks. Made ivermectin available over the counter. Banned businesses and government entities from discriminating based on mRNA vaccination status. Prohibited vaccine manufacturers from offering or paying healthcare practitioners financial incentives for giving vaccines. Restricted state health officials from mandating vaccines in an emergency. This bill had the full support of Governor Ron DeSantis and Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo,” Health Freedom Defense Fund wrote.
WOW:
Florida’s House leadership just blocked a sweeping medical freedom bill.
This bill would have:
Allowed parents to refuse childhood vaccines.
Required healthcare providers to inform parents of vaccine risks.
Made ivermectin available over the counter.
Banned businesses… pic.twitter.com/pvKEn3U4Jk
— Health Freedom Defense Fund (@theHFDF) April 29, 2026
“In this job, I’ve come to realize that power is most honorable when used for the benefit of others. The governor’s agenda to defend freedom, whether from medical tyranny or tech oligarchs, is something Floridians and Americans everywhere want and value. Members of the Florida House should be leading that effort, not standing in the way,” Ladapo commented.
In this job, l’ve come to realize that power is most honorable when used for the benefit of others.
The governor’s agenda to defend freedom, whether from medical tyranny or tech oligarchs, is something Floridians and Americans everywhere want and value.
Members of the Florida… https://t.co/s7LSAqXPu2
— Joseph A. Ladapo, MD, PhD (@FLSurgeonGen) April 29, 2026
WUSF has more:
A bill loosening child vaccination mandates was stricken from this week’s legislative special session. Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez announced Tuesday morning that he did not see a reason for the House to take on the Medical Freedom Act.
“There is some concern here, on my behalf, about children being in school without measles, mumps, polio, and chickenpox vaccines that have been working for decades,” he said.
Medical Freedom (SB 1756) passed through the Senate during the scheduled legislative session earlier this year, but its companion bill died in the House.
This month, the Senate announced that the Medical Freedom Act would be one of the priority bills legislators would be working on this week. After the House move, the Senate on Tuesday opted not to advance the proposal.
If passed, the law would have allowed several new health policies. One is a parent’s ability to waive the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine for their children attending K-12 schools due to conscientious or philosophical reasons. Previously, Florida parents could only be exempted for religious reasons.
The law would have also required health care workers to provide risk and benefit information about specific vaccines to parents before administering them to a child.
“It’s just been very disappointing to see the House speaker essentially put his personal vendettas with the governor over the will of the people,” said Justin Harvey, an Orange County resident and advocate ending vaccine mandates.
Perez has repeatedly clashed with Gov. Ron DeSantis. Previously, Perez blocked other legislation that DeSantis wished to pass in an effort to limit the House from becoming an extension of executive power. Last year, DeSantis called for a special session to pass legislation on illegal immigration. Perez and Senate President Ben Albritton rejected DeSantis’ legislation and passed their own.
