On March 3, Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally submitted written testimony to the Government, Labor, and Elections Committee in support of HB 1239 – Public Safety – Critical Infrastructure Protection.

This bill establishes a Critical Infrastructure Protection Branch within the Maryland Coordination and Analysis Center to strengthen threat identification, coordination, and response related to critical infrastructure.

As cyber and physical threats grow more sophisticated, so too must Maryland’s approach to identifying risks, sharing information, and coordinating response efforts. This legislation is a strategic step toward strengthening collaboration among state, local, federal, and private-sector partners and ensuring Maryland is better prepared to prevent, withstand, and respond to emerging threats.

From MACo Testimony:

Counties operate and maintain a significant share of Maryland’s critical infrastructure. Local governments oversee water and wastewater systems, emergency communications, transportation assets, public buildings, IT networks, and public safety systems. Disruption to any of these systems has immediate and cascading impacts on residents and regional stability.

HB 1239’s cross-file, SB 825, was heard on March 5 in the Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee. Kevin Kinnally submitted written testimony in support of this bill.

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