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Legislative Commission on Cybersecurity hears MNIT update, cites Saint Paul cyberattack as 2026 priority
Summary
At an Oct. 27 meeting, the Legislative Commission on Cybersecurity approved minutes, discussed 2026 priorities — led by concern about a recent Saint Paul cyberattack, data practices and AI — and heard MNIT officials Tarek Tomes and John Israel present the state's cybersecurity plan.
St. Paul — The Legislative Commission on Cybersecurity met Oct. 27 at the Capitol to set priorities for the 2026 legislative session and to receive an update from Minnesota IT officials on the state’s cybersecurity plan.
Sen. Wiklund called the meeting to order at 10:35 a.m. and the commission first approved the minutes of its Aug. 27, 2025, meeting after Representative Bahner moved to accept them and a vote was taken; the motion prevailed, though the transcript does not record individual vote tallies.
Members used the session to sketch major themes they want the commission to take up next year. Lawmakers highlighted the recent Saint Paul cyberattack as a catalyst for action, and members identified data-practices reforms and artificial intelligence oversight as priorities. They also discussed whether to extend the term of the Cybersecurity Commission to allow for continued oversight and legislative work leading into next session.
Tarek Tomes, Commissioner and Chief Information Officer of MNIT, and John Israel, MNIT’s Chief Information Security Officer, presented material described in the transcript as data and updates on Minnesota’s cybersecurity plan. The transcript records that MNIT provided the update but does not include the presentation slides, detailed figures, or verbatim remarks from the presenters.
Sen. Wiklund closed the meeting by outlining next steps, including scheduling additional commission meetings before the 2026 session and identifying specific topics for future discussion. The meeting adjourned at 11:56 a.m.
The commission did not take any formal votes on policy during the session; the only recorded formal action in the transcript was approval of the Aug. 27 minutes. Additional meetings were planned to develop proposals and gather more detail ahead of the legislative session.
