Senate panel advances bill to create state grants for local cybersecurity

Senate File 379, a proposal to establish a state-funded grant program to help counties, cities and eligible townships improve cybersecurity, was presented to a Minnesota Senate committee and advanced with two adopted amendments.

The bill’s author, Senator Wicklund, said the proposal would create a grant program to address cybersecurity needs of county and city governments and that an author’s amendment (A4) revises funding language so the program is funded with a one-time general fund appropriation rather than a special revenue account. "This bill … establishes a grant program to address cybersecurity needs of counties and city governments," Wicklund said. The committee adopted the A4 amendment by voice vote.

County and city IT leaders and association representatives told the committee smaller local governments lack resources and staffing to maintain a baseline cybersecurity posture. Amy Middendorf, IT director for Morrison County and chair of the Minnesota County IT Leadership Association (Minkitla), testified that the most important assets are "the data" and "trust," adding, "Data and trust are not about technology, but about people. And cybersecurity is simply security for our people."…