Iowa House Bill HSB16

Iowa 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/12/23
• Refer: 1/12/23

Caption

A bill for an act modifying the definitions of essential county purpose and essential corporate purpose to include cybersecurity purposes.

Impact

The enactment of HSB16 would allow counties and cities to more readily obtain funding for essential cybersecurity initiatives. Typically, local governments may issue general obligation bonds to finance essential purposes without needing voter approval, whereas other types of general purposes typically would require it. By adding cybersecurity to the essential purposes, entities could pursue necessary resources for safeguarding their information systems, thereby enhancing their overall operational security and resilience against potential cyber threats.

Summary

House Study Bill 16 (HSB16) seeks to modify existing definitions concerning essential county and corporate purposes to explicitly include provisions for cybersecurity. The bill aims to enhance the ability of local governments to invest in the acquisition, development, and improvement of information systems designed to protect against cybersecurity events, which are defined as occurrences that lead to unauthorized access or disruption of information systems or nonpublic information stored within them. By doing so, HSB16 acknowledges the growing importance of cybersecurity in government obligations and services.

Contention

Discussion surrounding HSB16 may involve concerns over the prioritization of cybersecurity within local government budgets, given that funding for such initiatives could divert resources from other pressing local needs. Critics may argue that the emphasis on cybersecurity could lead to an imbalance in budget allocations, particularly if the urgency of cyber threats is overstated. Despite these potential points of contention, there seems to be broad acknowledgment of the necessity for modernizing and redefining what constitutes essential county and corporate purposes in light of evolving technological threats.