summary
Introduced
01/06/2026
01/06/2026
In Committee
02/26/2026
02/26/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
An act relating to local government cyber security; creating s. 282.31855, F.S.; creating the Local Government Cybersecurity Protection Program within the University of South Florida, to be administered by the Florida Center for Cybersecurity; providing the purpose of the grant program; requiring the Florida Center for Cybersecurity to enter into certain data- sharing agreements with local governments and the Florida Digital Service for a specified purpose; requiring the Florida Center for Cybersecurity to administer the grant program based on specified criteria to provide information technology commodities and services to local governments for a specified purpose; requiring the Florida Center for Cybersecurity to contract for information technology commodities and services and award such commodities and services to local governments; establishing preference for certain counties under the grant program; requiring grants to be annually awarded by a certain date; prohibiting grants from being awarded to local governments for more than two consecutive fiscal years; authorizing local governments to purchase information technology commodities and services under specified criteria; providing local governments are responsible for all costs associated with such purchases; requiring the Florida Center for Cybersecurity to prepare and submit a specified report to the Governor's Office of Policy and Budget and the chairs of the legislative appropriations committees; authorizing the Florida Center for Cybersecurity to apply for and accept certain funds or grants; prohibiting the total administrative expenses to support the grant program from exceeding a certain percentage of the total funds appropriated to the program; providing for future repeal unless saved by the Legislature through reenactment; providing an effective date.
AI Summary
This bill establishes the Local Government Cybersecurity Protection Program, to be managed by the Florida Center for Cybersecurity at the University of South Florida, with the goal of helping local governments defend against cyber threats like ransomware. The program will involve data sharing agreements between the Florida Center for Cybersecurity, local governments, and the Florida Digital Service to improve the detection, prevention, and response to cybersecurity incidents. The Florida Center for Cybersecurity will administer grants to provide information technology (IT) commodities and services to local governments for strengthening their cybersecurity risk management programs, with a preference given to fiscally constrained counties, and grants will be awarded annually by October 1st, with no local government eligible for more than two consecutive years. Local governments can also purchase IT commodities and services through contracts managed by the Florida Center for Cybersecurity, even if they don't receive a grant, but they will be responsible for all associated costs. The Florida Center for Cybersecurity is required to report annually to the Governor's Office of Policy and Budget and legislative appropriations committees on the program's implementation and outcomes, and it can accept federal funds to support the program, with administrative expenses capped at 4% of the total appropriated funds. This program is set to expire on July 1, 2031, unless reenacted by the Legislature, and the bill takes effect on July 1, 2026.
Committee Categories
Budget and Finance, Education, Government Affairs
Sponsors (1)
Other Sponsors (2)
Information Technology Budget & Policy Subcommittee (House), State Affairs Committee (House)
Last Action
1st Reading (Committee Substitute 2) (on 02/26/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
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