S 1816

Florida Senate - 2026  (NP)    SR 1816
By Senator Burgess
23-02646-26  20261816__
1Senate Resolution
2A resolution recognizing CyberBay as a designated
3cybersecurity and artificial intelligence innovation
4region within the Tampa Bay area, acknowledging
5Florida’s national leadership in cybersecurity
6readiness and digital defense, and affirming the
7importance of coordinated public-private partnerships
8to protect this state’s economic and digital security.
9
10WHEREAS, Florida is nationally recognized as a leader in
11cybersecurity preparedness, resilience, and digital defense,
12committed to strengthening its ability to protect government,
13industry, and citizens from evolving cyber threats, and
14WHEREAS, the Tampa Bay region is home to one of the
15nation’s most significant concentrations of military, defense,
16intelligence, and security operations, anchored by MacDill Air
17Force Base, a cornerstone of United States digital and national
18defense, and
19WHEREAS, this unique concentration of military assets,
20government institutions, research universities, and private
21sector technology companies has established Tampa Bay as a
22nationally recognized center of excellence for cybersecurity,
23technology innovation, and digital defense, and
24WHEREAS, this convergence has given rise to CyberBay, a
25cybersecurity and artificial intelligence ecosystem centered in
26the Tampa Bay area and built upon collaboration among the
27military, government, academia, and the private sector, and
28WHEREAS, CyberBay represents a coordinated regional
29initiative to advance cybersecurity readiness, artificial
30intelligence innovation, workforce development, and the defense
31of the United States’ digital infrastructure, and
32WHEREAS, the University of South Florida serves as a
33central anchor institution within CyberBay, including through
34the establishment of the Bellini College of Artificial
35Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing, one of the nation’s
36first colleges dedicated to the integrated study of these
37disciplines, and
38WHEREAS, the Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence,
39Cybersecurity and Computing plays a critical role in educating
40and preparing the next generation of cybersecurity and
41artificial intelligence professionals through degree programs,
42applied research, industry partnerships, internships, and
43experiential learning aligned with national and state workforce
44needs, and
45WHEREAS, the University of South Florida has articulated a
46mission to support cybersecurity readiness across Florida,
47including the long-term objective of extending cybersecurity
48services, expertise, and workforce support to municipalities
49throughout this state, and
50WHEREAS, CyberBay is further strengthened through strategic
51collaboration with Cyber Florida, this state’s designated
52cybersecurity planning and coordination organization, which
53advances statewide cyber resilience, workforce development,
54applied research, and public-private partnerships, and
55WHEREAS, CyberBay serves as a convening platform for
56collaboration and innovation, including through the CyberBay
57Conference, which brings together leaders from the technology,
58academic, government, and military sectors to address emerging
59cyber threats, workforce challenges, and technological
60advancements, and
61WHEREAS, public-private initiatives associated with
62CyberBay have supported cybersecurity improvements within
63regional municipalities, including the Cities of Tampa, St.
64Petersburg, and Clearwater, strengthening cyber readiness at the
65local level, and
66WHEREAS, private individuals have played a catalytic role
67in establishing and advancing the CyberBay ecosystem, including
68Lauren and Arnie Bellini, who have contributed and pledged more
69than $55 million to the University of South Florida to support
70education, research, workforce development, and the completion
71of a fully integrated cybersecurity and artificial intelligence
72ecosystem, and
73WHEREAS, such private investment was made with the stated
74objective of helping create and sustain up to 70,000 high
75paying, high-technology jobs in the Tampa Bay region by
76leveraging Florida’s existing strengths in national defense,
77cybersecurity, and innovation, and
78WHEREAS, CyberBay supports Florida’s economic
79competitiveness by attracting high-value employers, retaining
80talent within this state, strengthening workforce pipelines, and
81reinforcing this state’s leadership in cybersecurity, artificial
82intelligence, and digital defense, and
83WHEREAS, this state has a compelling interest in protecting
84its digital infrastructure, securing its economic future, and
85defending against rapidly evolving cyber threats that affect the
86government, industry, and citizens alike, NOW, THEREFORE,
87
88Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:
89
90That the Florida Senate recognizes CyberBay as a
91cybersecurity and artificial intelligence innovation region
92within the Tampa Bay area.
93BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature acknowledges
94Florida’s national leadership in cybersecurity preparedness and
95recognizes CyberBay’s role in advancing statewide cybersecurity
96readiness and digital defense.
97BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature acknowledges
98the collaborative roles of the University of South Florida, the
99Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and
100Computing, Cyber Florida, municipal partners, and private sector
101stakeholders in advancing workforce development, technological
102innovation, and cybersecurity resilience.
103BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature affirms the
104importance of continued public-private collaboration to
105strengthen Florida’s cyber readiness, economic resilience, and
106leadership in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.