Adds to existing law to establish a cybersecurity and resiliency fund to address the state's need for information technology and cybersecurity infrastructure.
Summary
House Bill 168 creates a new Cybersecurity and Resiliency Fund in the state treasury. The fund may receive legislative appropriations or transfers, and its money is continuously appropriated for the purposes set out in the bill. The state treasurer would invest idle balances, with interest remaining in the fund.
The bill directs that the fund be used to meet Idaho’s ongoing needs for information technology infrastructure and cybersecurity technology. It also requires the Office of Information Technology Services to develop a five-year plan for replacing IT infrastructure and cybersecurity technology, update that plan annually, and submit it to the Division of Financial Management as part of the budget process. The office must also account for and report on money spent from the fund during the prior fiscal year.
Impact
This bill would add a new section to Title 67 of the Idaho Code establishing a dedicated funding mechanism for state IT and cybersecurity needs. It creates a continuously appropriated fund, authorizes investment of idle money, and requires annual planning and reporting by the Office of Information Technology Services. The practical effect is to formalize state-level budgeting and oversight for replacing and securing government technology systems, including networks, computers, storage, cloud security, data protection, incident response, and related resilience measures.
Sentiment
The available context suggests generally favorable or routine support for the bill, as it was introduced by the Appropriations Committee and framed as an infrastructure and security measure for state government operations. No committee transcript or vote record is provided, so there is no documented opposition or debate in the supplied materials. The bill’s emergency clause and effective date indicate a sense of urgency around addressing cybersecurity and technology replacement needs.
Contention
No specific points of contention are documented in the provided transcripts or voting history. Based on the bill text, any potential concerns would likely center on the creation of a continuously appropriated fund, the scope of spending authority, and the requirement for ongoing appropriations or transfers into the fund. However, the supplied materials do not show any named opponents, amendments, or disputed provisions.