H10 - Require ICE Cooperation & Budget Adjustments. (SL 2024-55)

Overview: Section 10.1 of House Bill 10 would make certain changes to the Completing Access to Broadband (CAB) Program, which include:

• Directing the Department of Information Technology (DIT) to utilize up to $190 million of funds appropriated to the CAB Program, to provide the county project cost responsibility for the 37 counties that had committed, as of May 1, 2024, to participate in the CAB Program and provide the county's cost share match.
• Requiring broadband service providers selected for a project under the CAB Program to provide at least 30% of the total estimated project cost.
• Eliminating the requirement that county governments provide at least 35% of the total estimated project costs.
• Eliminating the requirement that county governments provide DIT its portion of total estimated project costs upon executing an agreement with a broadband service provider.

House Bill 10 was ratified by the General Assembly on September 11, 2024, and vetoed by the Governor on September 20, 2024.