As cyber threats grow, states are continuing to explore ways to better support local governments. A recent example comes from Florida, where state lawmakers have advanced legislation to formalize a statewide cybersecurity assistance program for local jurisdictions.
As covered in a Government Technology article, following the close of the Florida 2026 legislative session, House Bill 1085 has been sent to the Governor for final consideration. If enacted, the bill would take effect July 1 and establish the Local Government Cybersecurity Protection Program (LGCPP) within the Florida Digital Service.
The program would codify and expand upon existing efforts by the state to provide cybersecurity assistance to local governments by offering access to state-provided services and coordinated support.
Under the proposed program, participating local governments would receive cybersecurity capabilities such as:
- Asset discovery and inventory tools
- Endpoint detection and response systems
- Security operations platforms
- Additional cybersecurity monitoring and protection services
In exchange, local governments would agree to share certain telemetry data with the state’s cybersecurity operations center, a provision aimed at strengthening statewide threat awareness and response coordination. The program would be authorized through July 1, 2031.
From the Government Technology article:
A bill analysis shows that in fiscal year 2025-26, 199 local governments have received $65.1 million in state cybersecurity support, paying for a list of capabilities, including asset discovery inventory, endpoint detection and response, security operation platforms, and security systems.
These efforts complement prior budget-driven initiatives; since fiscal year 2022-23, the state has funded similar cybersecurity support efforts through annual appropriations.
Read the full Government Technology article.
