On March 3, 2022, Associate Policy Director Dominic Butchko testified before the Senate Health, Education, and Environmental Affairs Committee in support of SB 754 – Local Government Cybersecurity – Coordination and Operations (Local Cybersecurity Support Act of 2022), SB 780 – Cybersecurity Governance Act of 2022, and SB 812 – State Government – Cybersecurity – Coordination and Governance with amendments. These bills represent a comprehensive cybersecurity package developed by Senator Katie Fry Hester. The package reflects recommendations from the Ad Hoc Committee on State and Local Cybersecurity of the Maryland Cybersecurity Council.

MACo urges the General Assembly to provide a meaningful and lasting State commitment to bolster cybersecurity and prioritize cyber resilience through collaborative efforts to identify, protect against, detect, and respond to malicious cyber threats.

From the MACo testimony: 

Legacy systems — outdated digital software or hardware — are generally unable to interact with any newer systems or implement necessary cybersecurity measures to safeguard critical data and sensitive information. As such, MACo urges the State to prioritize updating outdated technology platforms, which is vital for reducing cybersecurity risks, enhancing service delivery, and boosting government transparency and accountability.

Rising cyber liability insurance premiums and fewer insurance carriers have left counties facing difficulty acquiring and renewing coverage by leveraging its purchasing power. MACo believes the State can provide an affordable solution to ensure local governments remain cyber resilient in times of crisis.

More on MACo’s Advocacy:

Follow MACo’s advocacy efforts during the 2022 legislative session on MACo’s Legislative Tracking Database.
Learn more about MACo’s 2022 Legislative Initiatives.
Read more General Assembly News on MACo’s Conduit Street blog.