The Maryland Senate has passed an amended version of HB 445, legislation designed to enhance protections against cyberattacks targeting 9-1-1 centers, known in law as public safety answering points (PSAPs). The bill now heads back to the House of Delegates for final approval.
MACo supports the bill and its crossfile (SB 81), reinforcing the State’s commitment to safeguarding public safety infrastructure as counties transition to Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG911) — a statewide initiative to modernize emergency communications.
Bolstering Protections for 9-1-1 Centers
Counties operate and fund 9-1-1 centers, which safeguard Maryland’s emergency response systems. A cyberattack or disruption at a 9-1-1 center threatens lives, delays critical responses, and undermines community safety.
HB 445 builds on existing law by explicitly prohibiting malicious cyber activity to disrupt 9-1-1 operations. These systems are essential to emergency response — interference can delay dispatch, jeopardize lives, and undermine public trust.
The bill makes it a felony offense to intentionally interfere with the operation of a 9-1-1 center, carrying penalties of up to five years imprisonment or a $25,000 fine.
Senate Strikes Duplicative Provision
The Senate amended the bill to remove a provision that prohibited any act that disrupted a PSAP, regardless of intent. That provision carried a felony penalty of up to 10 years in prison or a $50,000 fine.
This change reflects a policy judgment that the removed language was duplicative. The amended bill retains a separate provision prohibiting intentional acts that impair PSAP operations — already classified as a felony punishable by up to 5 years or a $25,000 fine.
By striking the duplicative section, the Senate clarified that intentionality remains a key element of the offense, aligning this section with broader criminal law standards for cyber-related crimes.
Next Steps
The bill now returns to the House to consider the Senate’s amendments. With its core protections intact, HB 445 / SB 81 is a meaningful step toward securing Maryland’s emergency communications systems from cyber threats.
Useful Links
Previous Conduit Street Coverage: 9-1-1 To Go – Live Demo and Discussion at #MACoCon
