SESSION WATCH
Superseded — its companion passed SENATE · SESSION 2026

No. CS/CS/SB 1266

Cybersecurity Internships
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SPONSOR
Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development; Commerce and Tourism; Calatayud
FILED BY
Alexis Calatayud — District 38, Republican [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
7/1/2026
COMPANION
CS/CS/CS/HB 1081 — CS/CS/SB 1266 was set aside and its companion carried the policy

Filed under Education.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Cybersecurity Internships; Requiring the Department of Commerce to create the Cybersecurity Experiential Learning Program in a specified fiscal year, subject to legislative appropriation; requiring the department use a certain percentage of appropriated funds in a specified fiscal year to enter into an agreement with Cyber Florida at the University of South Florida to collaborate in designing the program for implementation and plan for expansion of the program; requiring Cyber Florida to report specified information to the department; providing the department with authorized uses of unspent funds, etc.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Mandates a state cybersecurity internship program with a 2032 expiration.

The Department of Commerce must create a cybersecurity experiential learning program in the 2026-2027 fiscal year, provided funds are appropriated by the Legislature.

The department must use 10 percent of appropriated funds to partner with Cyber Florida at the University of South Florida to design the program.

Cyber Florida must report on internship opportunities, best practices, student qualifications, and participating institutions to the department.

The department may disburse funds directly to institutions or contract with Cyber Florida to administer the program statewide.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Mandatory Program Creation majors. 1004.0983(2)(a)

AIRequires the Department of Commerce to create and operate the Cybersecurity Experiential Learning Program in the 2026-2027 fiscal year, contingent on legislative appropriation.

“the Department of Commerce shall create and operate the Cybersecurity Experiential Learning Program in the 2026-2027 fiscal year.” bill text, line 53 →
§ 2 Mandatory Partnership with USF majors. 1004.0983(2)(b)

AIRequires the Department of Commerce to use 10 percent of appropriated funds to contract with Cyber Florida at the University of South Florida to design the program for implementation and expansion.

“The Department of Commerce must use 10 percent of the appropriated funds in the 2026-2027 fiscal year to enter into an agreement with Cyber Florida” bill text, line 56 →
§ 3 Discretionary Fund Disbursement moderates. 1004.0983(4)(a)

AIPermits the Department of Commerce to either directly disburse funds to participating institutions or enter into a multi-year contract with Cyber Florida to administer the program statewide.

“the Department of Commerce may: 1. Implement the program and directly disburse the funds to participating institutions” bill text, line 96 →
§ 4 Program Expiration moderates. 1004.0983(6)

AIEstablishes that the statutory authority for the Cybersecurity Experiential Learning Program expires on July 1, 2032.

“This section expires on July 1, 2032.” bill text, line 128 →
TIMELINE
3/10/2026
Laid on Table, companion bill(s) passed, see CS/CS/CS/HB 1081 (Ch....
3/10/2026
Substituted CS/CS/CS/HB 1081 -SJ 744
3/10/2026
Read 2nd time -SJ 744
3/5/2026
Placed on Special Order Calendar, 03/10/26
3/3/2026
Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
3/2/2026
Favorable by- Appropriations; YEAS 17 NAYS 0
2/25/2026
On Committee agenda-- Appropriations, 03/02/26, 12:00 pm, 110...
2/10/2026
CS/CS by Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and...
2/9/2026
Now in Appropriations
2/6/2026
Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)
2/4/2026
CS/CS by Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and...
1/30/2026
On Committee agenda-- Appropriations Committee on Transportation,...
1/22/2026
CS by Commerce and Tourism read 1st time
1/22/2026
Now in Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and...
1/22/2026
Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)
1/21/2026
CS by Commerce and Tourism; YEAS 10 NAYS 0
1/16/2026
On Committee agenda-- Commerce and Tourism, 01/21/26, 8:30 am, 110...
1/13/2026
Introduced
1/12/2026
Referred to Commerce and Tourism; Appropriations Committee on...
1/6/2026
Filed
14 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 1004.0983
+821 / −0
STAFF ANALYSES
2 MORE →