BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2065

By: Dominguez

State Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The Texas Cybersecurity Council was created to ensure the protection of critical infrastructure and sensitive information, to develop a cybersecurity workforce to protect technology resources from increasing threats, and to develop strategies and solutions that ensure Texas continues to lead in areas of cybersecurity. Due to recent threats to the cyber infrastructure of the state's voting systems, there have been calls for the council's membership to be expanded to include an official from the elections division of the secretary of state's office. H.B. 2065 seeks to make this change.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 2065 amends the Government Code to require the Texas Cybersecurity Council to include one member who is an employee of the elections division of the secretary of state's office.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2021.