FloridaFlorida center links college students with cybersecurity work experience
Starting July 1, 2026, Florida's cybersecurity center must help colleges offer job-focused student learning if lawmakers provide funding.
What it does
With funding from lawmakers, Florida's cybersecurity center must help colleges expand hands-on learning by developing a program tied to cybersecurity job needs. The center sets entry qualifications and identifies interested schools and expected student numbers.
The center must post yearly reports showing student participation and completion, certification exam pass rates, and job placement rates for cybersecurity positions.
Argument forStudents could gain work experience shaped by employer needs and research on which opportunities help with cybersecurity job placement.
Argument againstEntry qualifications could keep some students from joining, even at schools that want to take part.
More detail
Subject to funding, the center must develop a cybersecurity work experience program and help expand hands-on learning for students. The program serves students at state universities, Florida College System institutions, and private postsecondary schools. The center sets minimum entry qualifications and identifies schools seeking to participate and expected student numbers. The center's work depends on a legislative appropriation. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.
The center must post a report each year on the program's student outcomes and possible improvements. The report gives results for each participating school and includes recommendations, including possible links with other state workforce efforts. The first report is due by July 1, 2028, and another is due each July 1 afterward.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jun 26Chapter No. 2026-170Latest
- Jun 25Approved by Governor Ron DeSantisBecame Law
- Jun 15Signed by Officers and presented to GovernorTo Governor
- Mar 10Ordered enrolledMinor
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 10In Messages
- Mar 10CS passed; YEAS 38 NAYS 0Passed Senate
- Mar 10Read 3rd timeMinor
- Mar 10Read 2nd timeMinor
- Mar 10Substituted for CS/CS/SB 1266
- Mar 10Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
- Mar 10Withdrawn from RulesMajor
- Feb 26ReceivedMinor
- Feb 26Referred to RulesMinor
- Feb 25In Messages
- Vote recorded Passage, Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 25CS passed; YEAS 112, NAYS 0Passed House
- Feb 25Read 3rd timeMinor
- Feb 25Added to Third Reading Calendar
- Feb 25Read 2nd timeMinor
- Feb 19Bill added to Special Order Calendar (2/25/2026)
- Feb 18Added to Second Reading Calendar
- Feb 18Bill referred to House Calendar
- Feb 171st Reading (Committee Substitute 3)Minor
- Vote recorded Favorable With Amendment(s) (Education & Employment Committee). Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 17CS FiledMinor
- Feb 17Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)Minor
- Feb 17Reported out of Education & Employment Committee
- Feb 17Favorable with CS by Education & Employment CommitteeMinor
- Feb 13PCS added to Education & Employment Committee agenda
- Feb 6PCS added to Education & Employment Committee agenda
- Jan 29Now in Education & Employment Committee
- Jan 29Referred to Education & Employment CommitteeMinor
- Jan 281st Reading (Committee Substitute 2)Minor
- Jan 28CS FiledMinor
- Jan 28Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)Minor
- Jan 28Reported out of Budget Committee
- Jan 27Favorable with CS by Budget CommitteeMinor
- Vote recorded Favorable With Committee Substitute (Budget Committee). Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 23Added to Budget Committee agenda
- Jan 22Now in Budget Committee
- Jan 22Referred to Education & Employment CommitteeMinor
- Jan 22Referred to Budget CommitteeMinor
- Jan 211st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)Minor
- Jan 21CS FiledMinor
- Jan 21Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)Minor
- Jan 20Reported out of Careers & Workforce Subcommittee
- Vote recorded Favorable (Careers & Workforce Subcommittee). Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 20Favorable with CS by Careers & Workforce SubcommitteeMinor
- Jan 15PCS added to Careers & Workforce Subcommittee agenda
- Jan 131st Reading (Original Filed Version)Minor
- Jan 12Now in Careers & Workforce Subcommittee
- Jan 12Referred to Education & Employment CommitteeMinor
- Jan 12Referred to Budget CommitteeMinor
- Jan 12Referred to Careers & Workforce SubcommitteeMinor
- Jan 6FiledIntroduced
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