Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed 14 bills on Monday, including a measure that will make a series of changes related to the Florida Center for Cybersecurity at the University of South Florida.
The bill will authorize—but not require—the center to provide assistance to state agencies if requested. According to a House bill analysis, such assistance could include cybersecurity training and increasing the cybersecurity effectiveness of technology platforms.
The bill also allows the center to be referred to as “Cyber Florida.” Another bill (HB 353) signed by DeSantis will give district court of appeals judges additional options about where they establish judicial chambers. It will allow such facilities to be established in counties adjacent to the counties where judges live.
Read: Florida Rep. Greg Steube Intros The Iranian Terror Prevention Act
Among other bills, DeSantis signed legislation (SB 544) that will require the state Department of Health to establish a network of swimming lesson providers to participate in a swimming lesson voucher program.
The program will cover the costs of lessons for families with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level, which, for instance, would be $60,000 for a family of four. To be eligible, families will need to have one or more children four years old or younger.
The voucher program will be funded by $500,000, which is included in the bill.
On Monday, the Legislature also formally sent DeSantis an education bill (HB 1285) that would, in part, would limit the number of book challenges that can be filed by people who don’t have children in a school district.
The measure is seen as a cleanup of a 2022 law that increased public scrutiny of school library books and classroom materials. DeSantis is expected to sign the new measure, which he discussed during an appearance Monday in Pensacola.
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