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Mission Statement

The mission of the NCSL Cybersecurity Task Force is to engage members in policy discussions, educate members and extend networking opportunities to legislative leaders on cybersecurity and privacy issues through a series of well-defined programs, webinars on key definitions and critical cyber policy issues as well as supporting private-public networks. The task force began with an initial timeframe of two years focusing on cybersecurity isssues, and was renewed and has expanded its focus to include privacy issues.

Cybersecurity and privacy issues are quickly moving to the forefront of homeland security state priorities and state-federal policies.

Sensitive information is increasingly stored online, allowing greater access to anything from bank accounts and medical records, to water and energy systems, and even law enforcement files. Crime has also moved online, presenting significant human and economic costs of data breach and cyber-attack incidents and highlighting the essential need to strengthen the security and resilience of state networks and cyber policies.

States can benefit from continually investing in the protection of state networks from cyber-attacks and securing the homeland with strong cyber policies. But in order to do so, states look to reliable, clear, and concise information on cyber threat prevention including best practices and remediation plans.

This task force can help consolidate and synthesize existing resources and best practices to support policy makers’ ability to understand and implement cybersecurity measures and privacy policies that work best for their state.

By participating in ongoing projects, NCSL members will learn best practices and develop guidelines for other states to implement easily replicable cybersecurity initiatives. By engaging with strategic partners, educating our members on pressing cyber issues and extending networks in order to develop and maintain security programs, NCSL Cybersecurity Task Force can tackle these issues in a thoughtful and meaningful forum.

Privacy Work Group

In mid-2020, the Privacy Work Group was formed as a subcommittee of the Task Force on Cybersecurity. The work group will examine a range of policy issues, including consumer data privacy, algorithms and artificial intelligence, government data usage, transparency, big data, law enforcement issues, and intersections between data privacy and cybersecurity.

Purpose and Scope

The rise of the data economy has policymakers, industry experts, economists and consumers considering the implications of data privacy policy on business and society. The growth in internet, mobile and social network connectivity has greatly increased the amount of personally identifiable data consumers generate and share with companies and other third parties. With new laws in many states and the passage of the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation, businesses and governments are now being required to adjust to a more complex regulatory regime. New policies will define how consumers protect their data and how businesses and governments operate in the future.

NCSL is a policy leader in data privacy at the state and federal levels. In August 2019, as part of its annual Legislative Summit, NCSL adopted a new directive on data privacy aimed at ensuring regular and meaningful consultation between states and federal lawmakers as Congress attempts to draft federal data privacy legislation. NCSL will continue to play a major role in guiding states on principles to consider when crafting privacy policy to protect consumers and create clear standards for third parties. As such, NCSL plans to create a privacy working group and involve the members and private sector sponsors of the Task Force on Cybersecurity.

NCSL Task Force On Cybersecurity
Co-Chair: President Thomas C. Alexander, South Carolina
Co-Chair: Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin, California

NCSL Contacts: Heather Morton (Denver)  Susan Parnas Frederick (D.C.) 

Members by States

Alaska
Senator Shelley Hughes
Arkansas
Representative Andrew Collins
Representative Austin McCollum
California
Brandon Bjerke
Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin
Colorado
Larry Hofer
Senator Robert Rodriguez
Connecticut
Senator Bob Duff
Senator James Maroney
Georgia
Representative Don Parsons
Hawaii
Representative Mark M. Nakashima
Indiana
Zac Maier
Diane Powers
Kansas
Terri Clark
Kentucky
Senator Whitney Westerfield
Louisiana
Monique Appeaning
Representative Barry Ivey
Maryland
Senator Katie Fry Hester
Massachusetts
Senator Michael O. Moore
Representative Angelo J. Puppolo
Minnesota
Representative Kristin Bahner
Representative Steve Elkins
Representative Pat Garofalo
Representative Jim Nash
Mississippi
Senator Scott DeLano
North Carolina
Representative Jason Saine
Ohio
Senator Kent Smith
Oregon
Sean McSpaden
Pennsylvania
Representative Malcolm Kenyatta
Rhode Island
Senator Louis P. DiPalma
South Carolina
President Thomas C. Alexander
South Dakota
Senator Jim Stalzer
Texas
Representative Giovanni Capriglione
Utah
Senator Wayne A. Harper
Senator Todd Weiler
Washington
Senator Matt Boehnke
Representative Shelley Kloba
Representative Cindy Ryu

Meetings

Dec. 5, 2022, San Diego (Prior to NCSL Forecast '23 Meeting) | Agenda

Session Resources:

July 31, 2022, Denver (Invitational Prior to NCSL's Legislative Summit) | Agenda

Session Resources:

NCSL Resources

May 19-20, 2022, Seattle | Agenda

Session Resources:

Virtual Task Force Meeting, March 25, 2022 | 1-3 p.m. ET | Agenda

(Open to task force members and sponsors only.)

No session resources/handouts available.

Virtual Task Force Meeting, June 18, 2021 | 1-3 pm ET | Agenda

Session Resources:

Dec. 3, 2020 | Cybersecurity Task Force Virtual Meeting | 1-4 p.m. ET | Agenda

(Open to Task Force members and sponsors only)

Handouts:

Sept. 22-25, 2020 | Privacy Week

Privacy Week examined policy issues including consumer data policy, government data usage, and the intersections between data privacy and cybersecurity. Links to blogs, podcasts, and virtual meetings are available on the Privacy Week web page.

June 25 and 26, 2020 | Cybersecurity Task Force Virtual Meeting—Virtual Cyber Range Experience

This virtual event, held with the IBM X-Force Command Center, allowed attendees to participate in a simulation of how a breach unfolds in real time. It showcased the attack vectors that healthcare, life sciences, education, and government organizations experience every day. The event covered security best practices and tactics, the importance of implementing a security strategy and the leadership skills required to deal with a major security issue.

Resources:

May 28, 2020 | Cybersecurity Task Force Virtual Meeting—Ransomware Resistance | Agenda

Presentations

Other Resources

  • NCSL Computer Crime Statutes - Ransomware and Computer Extortion

April 28, 2020 | Cybersecurity Task Force Virtual Meeting | Agenda

Presentations

Dec. 9, 2019 | JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge, Phoenix, Ariz. (Prior to the NCSL Capitol Forum) | Agenda

Presentations

Session Resources

  • CISA's Cyber Essentials
  • NCSL: Election Security: What Legislators (and Others) Need to Know
  • NCSL LegisBrief: State and Federal Efforts to Enhance Cybersecurity

Aug. 4, 2019 | NCSL Legislative Summit, Nashville, Tenn. | Agenda

May 22, 2019 | Archived Recording: NCSL Webinar: Cybersecurity Inside Legislatures

Jan. 18, 2018 | NCSL Executive Committee Meeting, New Orleans | Agenda

Session Resources:

July 30, 2018 | NCSL Legislative Summit, Los Angeles | Agenda | Printable Agenda

May 11, 2018 | NCSL Executive Committee Meeting, Denver | Final Agenda

Session Materials:

Dec. 12, 2017 | NCSL Capitol Forum, Coronado, Calif. | Final Agenda

Session Materials

Aug. 6-9, 2017 | NCSL Legislative Summit, Boston | Agenda

July 14, 2017 | Webinar: Cybertechnology and the Law

New technologies are outpacing the laws that govern their use. In this archived webinar, hear how cybersecurity, cybercrime and other technology issues can be addressed with legislation that will stand the test of time.

April 21, 2017 | Task Force meeting in conjunction with the NCSL Spring Executive Committee Meeting, Santa Fe | Agenda

Presentations

Jan. 27, 2017 | Joint Webinar With NGA’s Policy Academy on Enhancing State Cybersecurity: “Engaging State Lawmakers”

This webinar featured our task force co-chairs and discussed bridging the communication gap between the executive and legislative branches.

Dec. 5-6, 2016 | NCSL Capitol Forum | Cybersecurity Task Force Pre-Conference Agenda

Presentations

Oct. 21, 2016 | NCSL/NASCIO Webinar on the State of the States Chief Information Security Officer Biennial Survey

This webinar explored collaboration efforts between executive agency CISOs and Legislators.

Aug. 7, 2016 | Chicago in Conjunction With the NCSL Legislative Summit.

Presentations

June 22, 2016 | Conference Call With Department of Homeland Security on Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015

May 20-21, 2016 | Executive Committee Task Force on Cybersecurity, Minneapolis | Agenda

Presentations

Sponsors
  • Walmart
  • Amazon
  • American Institute of CPAs
  • AT&T
  • Consumer Data Industry Association (CDIA)
  • CTIA - The Wireless Association
  • Equifax
  • Google
  • NCTA - The Internet & Television Association 
  • NEC
  • Oracle
  • RELX
  • Okta

Please contact NCSL staff for information about sponsorship levels and benefits. 

Additional Resources

NCSL Resources

External Resources

Federal Activities

State Practice

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