SB 576 — Local Government Cybersecurity

Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 576 By Senatorthe HarrellCommittee 31-00943-26on 2026576__Governmental AOversight billand toAccountability; be entitled An act relating to local government cyber security;

and Senator Harrell 585-02774-26 2026576c1 A bill to be entitled An act relating to local government cybersecurity;

creating the Local Government Cybersecurity Protection Program;Program within the Florida Digital Service;

providingrequiring the purposegrant ofprogram to be administered by the program;Florida Digital Service;

requiringproviding local governments to participate in the programpurpose andof to apply to the Floridagrant Digitalprogram; Service to use cybersecurity programs and software;

providingrequiring thatthe suchFlorida applicationDigital mustService beto madeenter oninto acertain formdata-sharing prescribedagreements bywith thelocal Departmentgovernments offor Managementa Services;specified purpose;

establishingrequiring prioritythe forFlorida certainDigital countiesService underto administer the program;grant program based on specified criteria to provide information technology commodities and services to local governments for a specified purpose;

requiring the Florida Digital Service throughto thecontract departmentfor toinformation securetechnology commodities and administerservices federaland funds;award such commodities and services to local governments;

authorizingestablishing thepreference departmentfor tocertain adoptcounties rules;under the grant program;

requiring thatgrants suchto rulesbe encourageannually intergovernmentalawarded cooperationby for a specifiedcertain purpose;date;

authorizing the Florida Digital Service to apply for and accept certain funds or grants;

282.31855 Local Government Cybersecurity Protection Program.— (1)Page The1 Localof Government3 CybersecurityCODING: Protection Program is created within the department and shall be administered by the Florida Digital Service.

(2) The purpose of the program is to give local governments and law enforcement access to cybersecurity programs and software to protect against cybersecurity threats and ransomware Page 1 of 2 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 576 31-00943-26585-02774-26 2026576__2026576c1 incidents.(1) The Local Government Cybersecurity Protection Program is created within the Florida Digital Service, to be administered by the Florida Digital Service.

(3)(a)The Eachpurpose localof governmentthe shallgrant participateprogram inis theto programassist andeligible shalllocal applygovernments toin themitigating Floridaand Digitaldefending Serviceagainst tocybersecurity usethreats, cybersecurityincluding, programsbut andnot software.limited to, ransomware incidents.

The(2) applicationUnder mustthe begrant madeprogram, onthe aFlorida formDigital prescribedService byshall enter into data-sharing agreements with local governments as necessary to facilitate the department.collection, analysis, and exchange of security-related information to support the detection, prevention, and response to cybersecurity incidents consistent with s.

(b)282.318. A fiscally constrained county as described in s.

218.67(1)(3)(a) The Florida Digital Service shall beadminister giventhe prioritygrant inprogram based on objective eligibility and evaluation criteria to provide information technology commodities and services directly to local governments for the program.purpose of developing and enhancing cybersecurity risk management programs consistent with s.

(4)282.3185. The Florida Digital Service through the department shall secure and administer federal grants to further the program.

(5)(b) The departmentFlorida mayDigital adoptService rulesshall contract for information technology commodities and services and shall award such commodities and services to implementlocal thisgovernments section.eligible under the grant program criteria.

The(c) rulesIn mustawarding encourageinformation intergovernmentaltechnology cooperation,commodities collaboration, and informationservices, sharingthe Florida Digital Service shall give preference to protectfiscally digitalconstrained enterprisecounties data.as described in s.

218.67(1).

(d) Grants shall be awarded to eligible local governments by October 1 of each year.

(4) The Florida Digital Service may apply for and accept any funds or grants made available to it by any agency or Page 2 of 3 CODING:

Words stricken are deletions;

words underlined are additions.

Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 576 585-02774-26 2026576c1 department of the Federal Government to further the grant program.

Page 23 of 23 CODING: