On February 12, Legislative Services Assistant Charlotte Fleckenstein testified before the Education, Energy, and Environment Committee in support of SB 183 – Public Safety – Maryland Cyber Reserve – Established with amendments.

This bill would establish the Maryland Cyber Reserve within the Military Department to provide educational and technical support to help prevent and respond to cyberattacks affecting state, county, and local government agencies, as well as critical infrastructure across Maryland. MACo requested clarifying, structural amendments related to county participation and optional coordination.

As cyber threats and attacks become increasingly more sophisticated, educational and technical support to better prevent and respond to these cyber incidents will be a critical component of protecting and preserving critical infrastructure.

From MACo Testimony: 

Counties support the bill’s goal of leveraging cybersecurity expertise to strengthen preparedness and response capabilities. Local governments are frequent targets of increasingly sophisticated cyber threats, and SB 183 represents a positive step toward enhancing statewide coordination and resilience. To ensure clear and effective implementation, MACo requests several clarifying amendments related to county participation and operational coordination.

More on MACo’s Advocacy: 

• Follow MACo’s advocacy efforts during the 2026 legislative session on MACo’s Legislative Tracking Database
• Learn more about MACo’s 2026 Legislative Initiatives
• Read more General Assembly News on MACo’s Conduit Street blog