SESSION WATCH
Became law SENATE · SESSION 2026 · CHAPTER 2026-96

No. CS/SB 656

Internet Crimes Against Children Programs
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SPONSOR
Criminal Justice; Bradley
FILED BY
Jennifer Bradley — District 6, Republican [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
7/1/2026

Filed under Criminal Justice.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Internet Crimes Against Children Programs; Renaming the Online Sting Operations Grant Program created within the Department of Law Enforcement as the Internet Crimes Against Children Grant Program; revising the purpose of the grant program; revising the authorized uses for grant program funds; creating the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Funding Program within the Department of Law Enforcement, etc.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Broadens grant eligibility and creates a new task force funding program.

The bill renames the Online Sting Operations Grant Program to the Internet Crimes Against Children Grant Program. It expands the scope of funded activities beyond sting operations to include general efforts to combat online child exploitation.

Eligibility is broadened from local law enforcement agencies to "affiliates." This includes agencies with a memorandum of understanding with a task force or those designated by the department as being in good standing.

A new Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Funding Program is created within the Department of Law Enforcement. It provides a dedicated funding source for task forces, with 80% of funds divided equally among them and 20% retained by the department.

The bill authorizes the department to adopt rules to implement and administer the new task force funding program. It also allows the department to set criteria and time periods for the grant application and selection process.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 New eligibility category: affiliates majors. 943.0411(1)(a)

AIGrants are awarded to local law enforcement affiliates, defined as agencies with a current memorandum of understanding with an established Internet crimes against children task force or designated by the department as being in good standing.

“"Affiliate" means a local law enforcement agency in this state which has a current memorandum of understanding with an established Internet crimes against children task force or” bill text, line 27 →
§ 2 New task force funding program with fixed distribution majors. 943.0421(4)(b)

AIA new program is created to provide stable funding for Internet crimes against children task forces, with 80% of appropriated funds divided equally among task forces and 20% to the department.

“Eighty percent divided equally among the task forces; and 2. Twenty percent to the department to support its efforts in combating Internet crimes against children.” bill text, line 97 →
§ 3 Renamed grant program with expanded scope majors. 943.0411(2)

AIThe grant program is renamed from Online Sting Operations to Internet Crimes Against Children, and its purpose is broadened from creating sting operations to supporting work to combat online child exploitation.

“to support their work to combat online child exploitation and to target individuals online preying upon children or attempting to do so.” bill text, line 43 →
§ 4 Expanded allowable uses for grant funds majors. 943.0411(3)

AIGrant funds may now cover overtime pay, travel, investigative or digital forensics training, hardware, and software, replacing the previous limit to computers, electronics, software, and other related necessary supplies.

“The funds may be awarded to cover overtime pay, travel, investigative or digital forensics training, hardware, or software.” bill text, line 50 →
TIMELINE
5/26/2026
Chapter No. 2026-96
5/22/2026
Approved by Governor
5/21/2026
Signed by Officers and presented to Governor
3/17/2026
Ordered enrolled
3/11/2026
CS passed; YEAS 113, NAYS 0
3/11/2026
Read 3rd time
3/11/2026
Added to Third Reading Calendar
3/11/2026
Read 2nd time
3/10/2026
1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)
3/10/2026
Bill added to Special Order Calendar (3/11/2026)
3/10/2026
Bill referred to House Calendar
2/11/2026
In Messages
2/11/2026
Immediately certified -SJ 299
2/11/2026
CS passed; YEAS 39 NAYS 0 -SJ 294
2/11/2026
Read 3rd time -SJ 294
2/11/2026
Read 2nd time -SJ 294
2/9/2026
Placed on Special Order Calendar, 02/11/26
2/5/2026
Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
2/5/2026
Favorable by- Fiscal Policy; YEAS 15 NAYS 0
2/2/2026
On Committee agenda-- Fiscal Policy, 02/05/26, 9:00 am, 412 Knott Building
1/29/2026
Now in Fiscal Policy
1/28/2026
Favorable by Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil...
1/23/2026
On Committee agenda-- Appropriations Committee on Criminal and...
1/22/2026
CS by Criminal Justice read 1st time
1/22/2026
Now in Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice
1/21/2026
Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)
1/20/2026
CS by Criminal Justice; YEAS 8 NAYS 0
1/15/2026
On Committee agenda-- Criminal Justice, 01/20/26, 3:30 pm, 37...
1/13/2026
Introduced
12/9/2025
Referred to Criminal Justice; Appropriations Committee on Criminal...
11/24/2025
Filed
25 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 943.0411
+161 / −23
s. 943.0421
+304 / −0
STAFF ANALYSES
2 MORE →