Public Law 118 – 187: SHARE IT Act
Source Code Harmonization And Reuse in Information Technology Act
Summary
The Source Code Harmonization And Reuse in Information Technology Act, also known as the SHARE IT Act, is a new public law enacted in the United States on January 23, 2025. The purpose of this law is to promote the sharing and reuse of government-funded source code to improve efficiency, innovation, and collaboration in the public sector.
Key Provisions
- Establishes a federal repository for source code: The law creates a central repository within the General Services Administration (GSA) where government agencies must deposit all source code developed or acquired with federal funds.
- Requires open source licensing: Source code deposited in the repository must be licensed under an open source license approved by the Open Source Initiative (OSI). This allows other individuals and organizations to use, modify, and distribute the code freely.
- Promotes code sharing and reuse: The law encourages government agencies to share source code with other agencies, as well as with the public. It also provides financial incentives to agencies that actively participate in code sharing and reuse.
- Establishes a Code Review Board: The law creates a Code Review Board to provide guidance and oversight on the implementation of the act. The board consists of representatives from federal agencies, academia, industry, and the open source community.
Benefits of the SHARE IT Act
The SHARE IT Act is expected to provide numerous benefits to the public sector, including:
- Improved efficiency: By sharing and reusing source code, agencies can save time and resources by avoiding duplication of effort.
- Increased innovation: Sharing code allows agencies to learn from each other’s experiences and incorporate innovative solutions into their own systems.
- Enhanced collaboration: The act fosters collaboration between government agencies and the broader technology community, leading to better solutions and more efficient use of taxpayer funds.
- Improved transparency: By making source code publicly available, the act increases transparency and accountability in government software development.
Implementation
The SHARE IT Act directs the GSA to implement the law within one year of its enactment. The GSA must develop regulations, establish the code repository, and provide guidance to agencies on code sharing and reuse. Agencies have two years to comply with the law’s requirements.
Conclusion
The SHARE IT Act is a significant step towards improving efficiency, innovation, and collaboration in the public sector through the sharing and reuse of source code. By leveraging the power of open source software, the law has the potential to save taxpayer money, improve the quality of government services, and foster a more transparent and accountable government.
Public Law 118 – 187 – Source code Harmonization And Reuse in Information Technology Act” or the “SHARE IT Act
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