Adam RollinsShoring up the nation’s cybersecurity measures is growing increasingly important to safeguard security at the local, state and federal levels of government. States are introducing new legislation promoting stronger cybersecurity measures by modernizing IT infrastructure, protecting data and ensuring agencies are prepared for advancements and challenges in digital technology.
Arizona is one of the states spearheading these initiatives after introducing House Bill 2736 to develop a seven-year pilot program to protect the state’s data. The bill features several provisions requiring major state departments to implement data encryption systems and to upgrade cybersecurity infrastructure. The pilot program would begin in 2026 and conclude in 2033.
In addition, the implementation process will require the Department of Emergency and Military Affairs Cybersecurity Team to conduct security assessments for all technology products bought by state agencies. Evaluation will include using penetration testing to identify vulnerabilities and determine how robust the defenses are, testing the hardware integrity of individual components and verifying that the tech’s vendor complies with technical and cybersecurity standards.
New Jersey’s Senate Bill 3835 would create a new office to centralize the state’s cybersecurity efforts. The Office of Cybersecurity Infrastructure would be responsible for cyber operations for school districts, cities, counties and state agencies. These responsibilities would include:
- Creating and implementing cybersecurity policies for the state.
- Creating, implementing and monitoring statewide technology infrastructure for nonprofit and private organizations.
- Creating artificial intelligence (AI) policies to enable public and private institutions to safely incorporate AI into operations.
The governor would appoint a cybersecurity director to lead the office. If approved and enacted, the bill would immediately take effect.
Mississippi is making a significant push to reinforce cybersecurity infrastructure with two proposed bills. House Bill 1491 would create a Cloud Center for Excellence within the state’s IT services department to help simplify cloud adoption, improve security and optimize costs. The bill includes a five-year plan to transition state and local governments to cloud services. If approved, the bill would take effect July 1.
Senate Bill 2267 would be pivotal for advancing Mississippi’s cybersecurity capabilities by improving data sharing between state agencies without compromising existing security protocols. If passed, the bill would establish a cloud-based platform for state agencies to share information. The state would create a council composed of IT leaders from state agencies to oversee the initiative, recommend best practices and meet the needs of digital government services. The legislation would take effect July 1.
Indiana has introduced Senate Bill 0472 to protect public-sector organizations, educational institutions and government entities. Approval would require all relevant organizations to adopt standardized cybersecurity policies by Dec. 31, 2027. The state would also create a Cybersecurity Insurance Program to assist government entities in recovering from cyberattacks. If passed, the bill would take effect July 1.
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