MS HB1489

Establishes the Technology Innovation Fund administered by the Mississippi Department of Information Technology Services to provide financial support for technology-driven projects addressing critical needs, improving service delivery, and fostering public-private collaboration.

Fund purposes include deploying emerging technologies (artificial intelligence, blockchain, cloud computing, data analytics), promoting equitable technology access to underserved communities, and enhancing cybersecurity and state digital infrastructure protection.

Eligible applicants include state and local government agencies, educational institutions, non-profit organizations, and private sector entities in public-private partnerships; the Chief Information Officer establishes evaluation criteria prioritizing measurable public benefits, scalability, sustainability, and cross-sector partnerships.

Fund capitalized with $5,000,000 initial appropriation from State General Fund for fiscal year 2026, plus 1% of cloud service sales revenue (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS) annually; additional funding from federal grants, public-private partnerships, licensing revenues, and donations.

Recipients must provide periodic progress reports to the Chief Information Officer; the Chief Information Officer must submit annual reports to Governor and Legislature detailing funded projects, outcomes, and recommendations for future innovations.