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State CIO asks Senate to restore $2.5M for cybersecurity, seeks $35M to finish integrated eligibility system

Senate Subcommittee on Appropriations, State, Local Government

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Summary

Georgia Technology Authority asked the subcommittee to restore $2.5 million cut by the House to reach a $15 million cybersecurity target and requested $35 million to complete the Department of Community Health’s Integrated Eligibility System (SNAP/TANF/Medicaid). GTA said it will put $7.5M of its own funds toward cybersecurity if the Senate restores the House cut.

Shonzia Thomas, Georgia’s chief information officer and executive director of the Georgia Technology Authority, urged the subcommittee to restore funding the House removed from GTA’s cybersecurity request. GTA sought $15 million in one-time funds to expand statewide cybersecurity services; the House reduced that request to $5 million. Thomas asked the Senate to restore the $2.5 million the House removed and said GTA would supplement with $7.5 million of its own funds toward the effort.

Thomas also described a request for $35 million to complete the Department of Community Health’s Integrated Eligibility System (IES), which supports SNAP, TANF and Medicaid eligibility and was partially funded in FY25. She said the request completes the original funding plan and is critical to continued delivery of the system.

Thomas outlined a Technology Empowerment Fund plan to use existing revenue for three projects, including $7.5M for ERP modernization timeline expansion, $430,000 for the State Ethics Commission system replacement, and about $700,000 for Georgia Department of Labor call-center enhancements.

Committee members asked for context about GTA’s total technology budget and whether the requested amounts are new; Thomas said GTA’s annual technology services total about $190 million and that the requested items are additional investments tied to discrete projects.

Next steps: Thomas asked the Senate to restore the House cut and to consider the IES funding as part of amended budget negotiations.