Committee backs $890,000 appropriation for legislature cybersecurity and automation upgrades

The Committee of the Whole recommended that Bill 262 be placed on the third-reading file after members debated using FY26 excess revenues to fund legislative cybersecurity and automation improvements.

Senator Chilay presented the bill, explaining it would appropriate roughly $890,000 from available FY26 excess revenue to address the branch’s longstanding IT gaps, improve compliance with open-government requirements, and strengthen cybersecurity protections. "We should give them something if we're going to do this," one senator said, referring to DRT earlier in the day — the floor debate emphasized staff support and the need to secure legislative operations.

Opponents cautioned the appropriation competes with other pressing needs and asked whether the funds would be better targeted at agencies (such as hospitals or corrections) that previously reported funding shortfalls. Supporters, including Vice Speaker and the Rules Committee chair, highlighted long-standing infrastructure neglect and staff reliance on outdated systems; they described the appropriation as an investment in the Legislature’s ability to function.

The motion to place Bill 262 on the third-reading file carried without objection.

Next steps: the bill will proceed to the third-reading file and may be considered for final passage in the upcoming floor schedule.