The SHARE IT Act requires federal agencies to share custom-developed software code with one another instead of each building duplicate systems from scratch. Under the bill, agencies must store their custom code in accessible repositories, ensure they retain ownership and usage rights when contracting for software development, and make basic information about the code publicly searchable, generally within about seven months of the law taking effect. It applies only to newly developed or revised code going forward, not existing software, and includes exemptions for classified systems, national security programs, intelligence agency code, and cases where sharing would violate privacy or other laws. The law affects all federal agencies and their IT contractors, aiming to cut wasteful duplicate spending, improve cybersecurity through shared oversight, and boost transparency by letting the public see government-funded code where appropriate. The bill authorizes no new funding, relying instead on existing agency budgets, and requires oversight through GAO reports and annual compliance reporting from agency and federal chief information officers over the following one to two years.
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