Florida Legislature Introduces Bill Proposing Blockchain Working Group

Published: March 01, 2019

CONNECTICUTContract AwardsDELAWAREFLORIDAGeneral Government ServicesInformation TechnologyInformation TechnologyInnovationLEGISLATURE, FLORIDA (FLORIDA)OHIOPolicy and LegislationVERMONTWEST VIRGINIA

The Florida House and Senate are reviewing bills that would create a Blockchain working group.

The Florida State Legislature has bills HB 735 in the House and SB 1024 in the Senate that would establish a Blockchain working group to evaluate potential uses for the technology in state government. The bills note that Blockchain technology holds promise as a means to deliver more efficient and safe government services. According to the bills, it is in the public interest to establish this group, comprised of government officials and industry representatives, to study the ways in which different levels of government can benefit from the technology, and to eventually submit recommendations to the Governor and Legislature as to how these systems can be used.

Blockchain, being a relatively new phenomenon, is still finding its way into the state government technology world, however the Florida Legislature is not alone in considering how this tech can be utilized in government. There are a number of other states that have introduced legislation around the study or use of Blockchain in recent years, as 19 states introduced such legislation in the 2018 session.

Some states have already been experimenting with the technology. West Virginia used a Blockchain application to allow overseas voters to cast their ballots in the 2018 election, and there is hope that it will continue to grow further. Delaware already has a contract with IBM for a new corporate filing system based on Blockchain technology. Connecticut has formed a working group to analyze Blockchain and assess the benefits it could bring to the state. Last December, Ohio held a workshop with industry experts examining the potential value creation it could bring and where it would be most effective. Although the discussion was not billed as a call for an RFP, the state may be considering such action in the future. Vermont recently issued an RFI to potentially develop a pilot program looking at the use of Blockchain for registering Vermont Captive Insurance Entities.

All this indicates that Blockchain technology is indeed gaining prevalence among state technology leaders, and although the level of usage of the technology among the states is varied, it does appear to be a clear priority for potential expansion. Interested vendors may wish to monitor the state technology landscape to see when and where Blockchain technology opportunities arise.

Source: Florida State Legislature