Local Government Cybersecurity Protection Program.

(1) The Local Government Cybersecurity Protection Program is created within the Florida Digital Service, to be administered by the Florida Digital Service. The purpose of the grant program is to assist eligible local governments in mitigating and defending against cybersecurity threats, including, but not limited to, ransomware incidents.

(2) Under the grant program, the Florida Digital Service shall enter into data-sharing agreements with local governments as necessary to facilitate the collection, analysis, and exchange of security-related information to support the detection of, prevention of, and response to cybersecurity incidents consistent with s. 282.318.

(3)(a) The Florida Digital Service shall administer the grant program based on objective eligibility and evaluation criteria to provide information technology commodities and services directly to local governments for the purpose of developing and enhancing cybersecurity risk management programs consistent with s. 282.3185.

(b) The Florida Digital Service shall contract for information technology commodities and services and shall award such commodities and services to local governments eligible under the grant program criteria.

(c) In awarding information technology commodities and services, the Florida Digital Service shall give preference to fiscally constrained counties as described in s. 218.67(1).

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

(e) A local government may purchase information technology commodities and services from the contracts managed by the Florida Digital Service to administer this section even if it does not apply for or receive a grant award. The local government shall be solely responsible for all costs associated with such purchases.

(f) Beginning December 15, 2027, and each year thereafter, the Florida Digital Service shall prepare and submit to the Governor’s Office of Policy and Budget and the chairs of the legislative appropriations committees a report on the implementation and outcomes of the grant program for the preceding fiscal year. The report must include:

1. The total number of grant applications received and number and dollar amount of grants awarded, as well as the number of applications denied, withdrawn, or deemed ineligible.

2. A list of the local governments awarded a grant, identifying the cybersecurity commodities or services funded by each grant and their purpose.

3. A description of federal and other funds received and used in furtherance of the grant program.

(4) The Florida Digital Service may apply for and accept any funds or grants made available to it by any agency or department of the Federal Government to further the grant program.

(5) This section shall stand repealed on July 1, 2031, unless reviewed and saved from repeal through reenactment by the Legislature.