Bill > SB2443

This bill establishes the Technology Innovation Fund, a state-level initiative designed to support technological advancements in Mississippi's government services. The fund, administered by the Department of Information Technology Services (ITS) under the Chief Information Officer (CIO), aims to drive digital transformation by providing financial support for innovative technology projects. Eligible applicants include state and local government agencies, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and private sector entities partnering with public agencies. The fund's objectives include promoting digital solutions that improve government efficiency, fostering cross-agency collaboration, encouraging public-private partnerships, facilitating research into emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and blockchain, ensuring equitable access to technological innovations, and enhancing cybersecurity. The CIO will establish criteria for evaluating and allocating funds, prioritizing projects with measurable public benefits, scalability, and potential to address urgent service delivery challenges. Initially capitalized through a General Fund appropriation, the fund will seek additional funding from public-private partnerships, federal grants, technology licensing revenues, and donations. Recipients of funding will be required to submit periodic progress reports, and the CIO must provide an annual report to the Governor and Legislature detailing the fund's activities and outcomes. The bill grants the CIO authority to create necessary rules and regulations for implementing the fund, with the act taking effect immediately upon passage.

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https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2025/pdf/history/SB/SB2443.xml