Senate File No. 379 is a proposed bill in Minnesota that aims to establish a state-funded grant program focused on enhancing cybersecurity in counties and cities throughout the state. The key elements of the bill include:

1. Creation of a Cybersecurity Grant Account: This program will be funded through a special revenue fund, and the allocated money will be used to provide grants specifically to support counties and cities that lack sufficient resources to participate in federal and state cybersecurity initiatives.

2. Eligible Expenditures: Counties and cities can apply for grants to cover costs related to cybersecurity, including technology services, hardware like firewalls and network switches, software solutions for email filtering and antivirus protection, as well as consulting services.

3. Application and Review Process: The bill outlines a process for applying for these grants, which includes assessing the local needs and the overall risk reduction across the state's critical infrastructure and public services. Priority will be given to applications based on the local need and existing cybersecurity capabilities.

4. Grant Amounts: Each eligible expenditure can initially secure a grant covering up to $25,000. If additional funds are needed, supplemental grants can be provided which cover up to 75% of the costs exceeding $25,000, with a cap of $1,000,000 in total grant money per county or city.

5. Accountability and Reporting: Counties and cities receiving the grants must agree to provide annual reports on how the funds were used. The commissioner is required to submit an annual report to the legislature detailing the distribution and utilization of the grant funds.

6. Funding: The bill proposes appropriating $20,000,000 to the cybersecurity grant account for the fiscal year 2026 to support this initiative.

In summary, SF No. 379 seeks to bolster local cybersecurity defenses in Minnesota by providing financial assistance to under-resourced counties and cities, ensuring a more robust defense against cyber threats across the state.