EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*hb1468*
HOUSE BILL 1468
C8, K3 5lr3177
CF SB 867
By: Delegate Forbes Delegates Forbes, Alston, Bagnall, Bhandari, Cullison,
Guzzone, Hill, S. Johnson, Kaiser, Kerr, Lopez, Martinez, Pena–Melnyk,
Rosenberg, Ross, Taveras, White Holland, Woods, and Woorman
Introduced and read first time: February 7, 2025
Assigned to: Health and Government Operations
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
House action: Adopted
Read second time: March 19, 2025
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Cyber Maryland Program – Revisions 2
FOR the purpose of transferring the Cyber Maryland Program from the Maryland 3
Technology Development Corporation to the Maryland Department of Labor; 4
altering the duties of the Program; requiring the Program to award certain 5
competitive grants and contracts; altering the purposes for which the Cyber 6
Maryland Fund may be used; altering certain funding requirements related to the 7
Program; requiring that unused balances from certain programs and funds be 8
transferred to the Program at the close of the fiscal year; altering the membership of 9
the Cyber Maryland Board; and generally relating to the Cyber Maryland Program. 10
BY transferring 11
Article – Economic Development 12
Section 10–491 and the part “Part XI. Miscellaneous” 13
Annotated Code of Maryland 14
(2024 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 15
to be 16
Article – Labor and Employment 17
Section 11–1701 and the subtitle “Subtitle 17. Miscellaneous” 18
Annotated Code of Maryland 19
(2016 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 20
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 21 2 HOUSE BILL 1468
Article – Labor and Employment 1
Section 11–1701 to be under the amended subtitle “Subtitle 17. Cyber Maryland 2
Program” 3
Annotated Code of Maryland 4
(2016 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 5
(As enacted by Section 1 of this Act) 6
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 7
That Section(s) 10–491 and the part “Part XI. Miscellaneous” of Article – Economic 8
Development of the Annotated Code of Maryland be transferred to be Section(s) 11–1701 9
and the subtitle “Subtitle 17. Miscellaneous” of Article – Labor and Employment of the 10
Annotated Code of Maryland. 11
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Laws of Maryland read 12
as follows: 13
Article – Labor and Employment 14
Subtitle 17. [Miscellaneous] CYBER MARYLAND PROGRAM. 15
11–1701. 16
(a) [(1)] In this [section] SUBTITLE the following words have the meanings 17
indicated. 18
[(2)] (B) “Board” means the Cyber Maryland Board. 19
[(3)] (C) “Fund” means the Cyber Maryland Fund. 20
[(4)] (D) “Program” means the Cyber Maryland Program. 21
11–1702. 22
[(b)] (A) There is a Cyber Maryland Program in the [Corporation] 23
DEPARTMENT . 24
[(c)] (B) The purposes of the Program are to: 25
(1) create and execute a talent pipeline that materially reduces workforce 26
vacancies by July 1, 2026; 27
(2) serve as a one–stop shop for employers seeking to leverage cyber 28
workforce development programs offered by the State and its partners; 29
(3) inform cybersecurity training and education programs operated by 30
public or private entities with industry–driven needs; 31 HOUSE BILL 1468 3
(4) build the most advanced local and State information technology 1
workforce in the nation, which, to the maximum extent possible, reflects the racial, gender, 2
ethnic, and geographic diversity of the State; 3
(5) coordinate and accelerate cybersecurity research and innovation in the 4
State; and 5
(6) support the efforts of the Department of Information Technology to 6
improve the State government’s cybersecurity posture, including State agencies, local 7
government units, and critical infrastructure. 8
[(d)] (C) The Program shall: 9
(1) conduct ongoing research by collaborating with the Cybersecurity 10
Association [of Maryland], Inc., Cybersecurity Talent Advisory Board to collect and analyze 11
real–time industry data to identify cybersecurity workforce needs as described in the U.S. 12
Chamber of Commerce Talent Pipeline Management Approach; 13
(2) use the results of the research described in item (1) of this subsection 14
to increase the effectiveness of existing State cybersecurity workforce programs for 15
employers in the State; 16
(3) facilitate partnerships for new training and education programs to 17
address the workforce needs identified under item (1) of this subsection; 18
(4) develop a statewide strategic plan for cybersecurity workforce 19
development, using the results of the research described in item (1) of this subsection and 20
with input from the Cybersecurity Association [of Maryland], Inc., Cybersecurity Talent 21
Advisory Board on or before December 1, 2023; [and] 22
(5) DEVELOP, PROMOTE, SUPPORT, AND INVEST IN TALENT 23
IMPROVEMENT STRATEGI ES, SUCH AS STRATEGIES T HAT LEVERAGE THE U.S. 24
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TALENT PIPELINE MANAGEMENT APPROACH; AND 25
[(5)] (6) ensure that outcomes of the Program are inclusive and, to the 26
maximum extent practicable, reflect the racial, gender, ethnic, and geographic diversity of 27
the State. 28
(D) BEGINNING FISCAL YEAR 2026, THE PROGRAM, IN CONSULTATION WITH 29
THE BOARD, SHALL AWARD COMPETIT IVE GRANTS OR CONTRA CTS FOR 30
INFORMATION TECHNOLO GY OR OPERATIONAL TE CHNOLOGY TO ENHANCE 31
CYBERSECURITY WORKFO RCE DEVELOPMENT , INCLUDING CYBERSECUR ITY FOR 32
OPERATIONAL TECHNOLO GY. 33
11–1703. 34 4 HOUSE BILL 1468
[(e) (1)] (A) There is a Cyber Maryland Fund. 1
[(2)] (B) The purposes of the Fund are to: 2
[(i)] (1) achieve the purposes identified under [subsection (c) of 3
this section] § 11–1702(B) OF THIS SUBTITLE ; and 4
[(ii)] (2) support innovative approaches to meeting cybersecurity 5
workforce needs. 6
[(3)] (C) The [Corporation] DEPARTMENT shall administer the Fund. 7
[(4) (i)] (D) (1) The Fund is a special, nonlapsing fund that is not 8
subject to § 7–302 of the State Finance and Procurement Article. 9
[(ii)] (2) The State Treasurer shall hold the Fund separately, and 10
the Comptroller shall account for the Fund. 11
[(5)] (E) The Fund consists of: 12
[(i)] (1) money appropriated in the State budget to the Fund; [and 13
(ii)] (2) MONEY TRANSFERRED TO THE FUND IN ACCORDANCE 14
WITH SUBSECTION (M) OF THIS SECTION; AND 15
(3) any other money from any other source accepted for the benefit of the 16
Fund. 17
[(6)] (F) The Fund may be used only for: 18
[(i)] (1) administrative expenses of the Program, including hiring 19
staff in accordance with the State budget and hiring consultants and other professionals as 20
necessary to implement, maintain, and administer the Program and the Fund; and 21
[(ii)] (2) providing grants to elementary and secondary schools, 22
institutions of higher education, including community colleges, EMPLOYERS , INCLUDING 23
for–profit corporations, [and] nonprofit organizations, REGISTERED APPRENTIC ESHIP 24
SPONSORS, LOCAL WORKFORCE BOAR DS, INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION S, LABOR UNIONS , 25
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS , LOCAL OR REGIONAL EC ONOMIC DEVELOPMENT E NTITIES, 26
AND OTHER RELEVANT P ARTNER ENTITIES AT THE DEPARTMENT ’S DISCRETION to 27
operate cybersecurity programs based on the strategic plan of the Program. 28
[(7)] (G) The [Corporation] DEPARTMENT shall adopt standards to 29
award grants under this section. 30 HOUSE BILL 1468 5
[(8) (i)] (H) (1) The State Treasurer shall invest the money of the 1
Fund in the same manner as other State money may be invested. 2
[(ii)] (2) Any interest earnings of the Fund shall be credited to the 3
General Fund of the State. 4
[(9)] (I) Expenditures from the Fund may be made only in accordance 5
with the State budget. 6
[(10)] (J) (1) For fiscal year [2025 and each year thereafter] 2026, the 7
Governor[: 8
(i) shall] MAY include in the annual budget bill an appropriation of 9
[$99,000] $3,100,000 for the Fund to be used for [talent pipeline management; and 10
(ii) may include in the annual budget bill an additional 11
appropriation of $250,000 for the Fund] THE AWARDING OF GRAN TS AND CONTRACTS 12
UNDER § 11–1702(D) OF THIS SUBTITLE ALI GNED WITH THE STRATE GY OF AND 13
APPROVED BY THE BOARD. 14
(2) FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027 AND EACH FISCAL YEAR THEREAFTER , 15
THE GOVERNOR SHALL MAY INCLUDE IN THE ANNUA L BUDGET BILL AN 16
APPROPRIATION SUFFIC IENT TO RUN THE PROGRAM. 17
(3) THE PROGRAM SHALL SEEK ALTERNATE FUNDING SO URCES TO 18
INCLUDE COST–SHARING OR COST–MATCHING AGREEMENTS FROM PARTNERS 19
SOURCES OTHER THAN T HE STATE, INCLUDING THE FEDERA L GOVERNMENT , THE 20
PRIVATE SECTOR , AND PHILANTHROPY , TO DOUBLE SUPPLEMENT THE MONEY 21
APPROPRIATED TO THE FUND UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION . 22
[(11)] (K) Subject to the availability of funding, for fiscal year 2025 and 23
each year thereafter, $250,000 of the Fund shall be used for implementing the U.S. 24
Chamber of Commerce Talent Pipeline Management Approach. 25
[(12)] (L) The Governor shall MAY include in the annual budget bill an 26
appropriation in an amount sufficient for the Program, INCLUDING TO HIRE SU FFICIENT 27
STAFF TO CARRY OUT I TS DUTIES. 28
(M) NOTWITHSTANDING § 7–302 OF THE STATE FINANCE AND 29
PROCUREMENT ARTICLE AND ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW , THE UNSPENT 30
BALANCE OF THE FOLLO WING PROGRAMS AND FU NDS THAT WAS MADE FO R THE 31
FISCAL YEAR SHALL BE TRANSFERRED TO THE FUND AT THE CLOSE OF THAT FISCAL 32
YEAR: 33
6 HOUSE BILL 1468
(1) EMPLOYMENT ADVANCEMENT RIGHT NOW PROGRAM; 1
(2) CYBERSECURITY INVESTMENT TAX CREDIT; 2
(3) BUY MARYLAND CYBERSECURITY TAX CREDIT; 3
(4) CYBERSECURITY INVESTMENT FUND; 4
(5) PATHWAYS IN TECHNOLOGY EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL 5
PROGRAM; 6
(6) CYBER PUBLIC SERVICE SCHOLARSHIP ; 7
(7) MARYLAND TECHNOLOGY INTERNSHIP PROGRAM; 8
(8) MARYLAND INSTITUTE FOR INNOVATIVE COMPUTING; 9
(9) ACCELERATING CYBER CAREERS PROGRAM; 10
(10) UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, BALTIMORE COUNTY’S CENTER FOR 11
CYBERSECURITY ; 12
(11) BUILD OUR FUTURE GRANT PILOT PROGRAM; AND 13
(12) REGISTERED APPRENTIC ESHIPS IN CYBERSECUR ITY. 14
11–1704. 15
[(f) (1)] (A) There is a Cyber Maryland Board. 16
[(2)] (B) The Board consists of the following members: 17
[(i)] (1) the Senate and House of Delegates cochairs of the Joint 18
Committee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Biotechnology; 19
[(ii)] (2) the Secretary, or the Secretary’s designee; 20
[(iii)] (3) the Secretary of [Labor] COMMERCE , or the Secretary’s 21
designee; 22
[(iv)] (4) the Maryland Secretary of Veterans and Military 23
Families, or the Secretary’s designee; 24
[(v)] (5) the Secretary of Information Technology, or the 25
Secretary’s designee; 26 HOUSE BILL 1468 7
(6) THE SECRETARY OF HIGHER EDUCATION, OR THE SECRETARY’S 1
DESIGNEE; 2
(7) THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS, OR THE 3
SUPERINTENDENT ’S DESIGNEE; 4
[(vi)] (8) the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Cybersecurity 5
Association [of Maryland], Inc., or the Chair’s designee; 6
[(vii)] (9) the Chair of the Maryland Workforce Association, or the 7
Chair’s designee; 8
(10) THE ADJUTANT GENERAL, OR THE ADJUTANT GENERAL’S 9
DESIGNEE; 10
(10) (11) THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE MARYLAND 11
TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (TEDCO), OR THE CHIEF 12
EXECUTIVE OFFICER’S DESIGNEE; AND 13
[(viii)] (11) (12) the following members, appointed by the Governor: 14
[1.] (I) five members from the private sector with 15
cybersecurity needs; 16
[2.] (II) one representative from a nonprofit organization 17
with expertise in cybersecurity talent development; 18
[3.] (III) one representative from a community college; 19
[4.] (IV) one representative from a 4–year, public HBCU 20
college; and 21
[5.] (V) one representative from a 4–year, public college[; 22
and 23
(ix) the Chief Executive Officer, or the Chief Executive Officer’s 24
designee]. 25
[(3) (i)] (C) (1) Subject to [subparagraph (ii)] PARAGRAPH (2) of 26
this [paragraph] SUBSECTION , the members of the Board shall elect a chair from among 27
the members of the Board. 28
[(ii)] (2) The chair may not be: 29
8 HOUSE BILL 1468
[1.] (I) a State employee; or 1
[2.] (II) the Chief Executive Officer OF THE MARYLAND 2
TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (TEDCO). 3
[(4)] (D) The Board shall: 4
[(i)] (1) provide input regarding the development of the statewide 5
cybersecurity workforce development strategic plan required under [subsection (d)(4) of 6
this section] § 11–1702(C)(4) OF THIS SUBTITLE ; 7
[(ii)] (2) assist the Program with stakeholder outreach and 8
engagement; 9
[(iii)] (3) help the Program explore synergies where appropriate 10
with cybersecurity workforce development efforts by regional and county workforce 11
development entities; 12
[(iv)] (4) coordinate as necessary with the [Maryland] Department 13
of [Labor] COMMERCE and the Department; and 14
[(v)] (5) provide other advice and support for the Program. 15
[(5)] (E) A member of the Board: 16
[(i)] (1) may not receive compensation as a member of the Board; 17
but 18
[(ii)] (2) is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the 19
Standard State Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget. 20
[(6) The Governor may remove an appointed member of the Board for 21
incompetence, misconduct, or failure to perform the duties of the position.] 22
(F) TO THE EXTENT PRACTIC ABLE, THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE BOARD 23
SHALL REFLECT THE RA CE, GENDER, AGE, AND GEOGRAPHIC DIVER SITY OF THE 24
STATE. 25
(G) (1) THE TERM OF AN APPOIN TED MEMBER OF THE BOARD IS 4 YEARS. 26
(2) THE TERMS OF THE APPO INTED MEMBERS ARE ST AGGERED AS 27
REQUIRED BY THE TERM S PROVIDED FOR APPOINT ED MEMBERS OF THE BOARD ON 28
OCTOBER 1, 2025. 29
HOUSE BILL 1468 9
(3) AT THE END OF A TERM , AN APPOINTED MEMBER CONTINUES TO 1
SERVE UNTIL A SUCCES SOR IS APPOINTED AND QUALIFIES. 2
(4) A MEMBER WHO IS APPOIN TED AFTER A TERM HAS BEGUN SERVES 3
ONLY FOR THE REST OF THE TERM AND UNTIL A SUCCESSOR IS APPOINTED AND 4
QUALIFIES THE BOARD SHALL ADOPT BYL AWS THAT ESTABLISH S TAGGERED TERMS 5
FOR THE MEMBERS OF T HE BOARD AND PROCEDURES GOVERNING VACANCIES IN 6
MEMBERSHIP . 7
11–1705. 8
[(g)] (A) On or before December 1 each year, beginning in 2026, the Program, in 9
conjunction with the [Corporation] DEPARTMENT , shall submit a report on the operation 10
and performance of the Program to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the 11
State Government Article, the General Assembly. 12
(B) THE REPORT REQUIRED U NDER SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION 13
SHALL INCLUDE KEY PE RFORMANCE METRICS ES TABLISHED BY THE DEPARTMENT 14
THAT ARE ALIGNED WIT H THE STATE STRATEGY AND GO ALS FOR THE PROGRAM 15
AND THE PROGRESS OF THE PROGRAM AGAINST THOSE METRICS. 16
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That: 17
(a) The Cyber Maryland Program, in conjunction with the Maryland Department 18
of Labor and the Cyber Maryland Board, shall report on cyber workforce program activities 19
determined relevant by the Program through collaboration with relevant departments and 20
entities, including: 21
(1) Employment Advancement Right Now Program; 22
(2) Pathways in Technology Early College High School; 23
(3) Cyber Public Service Scholarship; 24
(4) Maryland Technology Internship Program; 25
(5) Maryland Institute for Innovative Computing; 26
(6) Accelerating Cyber Careers Program; 27
(7) University of Maryland Baltimore County’s Center for Cybersecurity; 28
(8) Build Our Future Grant Pilot Program; and 29
(9) Registered Apprenticeships in Cybersecurity. 30
10 HOUSE BILL 1468
(b) The report required under subsection (a) of this section shall capture the 1
following data for each program: 2
(1) program outputs, such as the number of program participants served; 3
(2) program outcomes, such as the impact of or changes resulting from the 4
program; 5
(3) the performance targets for program outputs and outcomes; and 6
(4) if possible, the return on program investments. 7
(c) On or before December 1, 2026, the Cyber Maryland Program, in conjunction 8
with the Maryland Department of Labor, shall submit the report to the Governor and, in 9
accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly. 10
SECTION 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That 11
(a) It it is the intent of the General Assembly that: 12
(1) the amounts awarded in grants and contracts under § 11–1702(d) of the 13
Labor and Employment Article, as enacted by Section 2 of this Act, not exceed the following: 14
(1) may be allocated to provide $1,000,000 for the establishment of 15
cybersecurity clinics;, including clinics related to operational technology, that: 16
(i) are focused on ensuring individuals attain hands –on 17
cybersecurity skills to protect critical infrastructure sectors including emergency services, 18
water, elementary and secondary schools, health care, energy, small businesses, and 19
nonprofit entities; 20
(ii) provide cyber awareness and training to customers; 21
(iii) perform cybersecurity assessments for customers; 22
(iv) provide recommendations for necessary remediations; 23
(v) install free or reduced–cost cybersecurity tools as part of the 24
grant or at a reduced rate to the end customer; or 25
(vi) provide additional cybersecurity tasks as appropriate; and 26
(2) the balance of the Cyber Maryland Fund be used to implement 27
initiatives approved by the Cyber Maryland Board, including strategies to support 28
transitioning veterans, existing worker training, education for kindergarten through 12th 29
grade students at summer camps, the Maryland Statewide Computing Alignment to Locate 30
your Education Scale (SCALE) portal, a marketing campaign for the Cyber Maryland 31 HOUSE BILL 1468 11
Brand to attract talent to the State, and others outlined in the statewide strategic plan 1
required under § 11–1702(c)(4) of the Labor and Employment Article. 2
(2) $500,000 to support the development of a service–based learning 3
program for cybersecurity; 4
(3) $500,000 to support transitioning veterans within the State who have 5
cyber skills, adjacent skills, or relevant clearances acquired during their service; 6
(4) $99,000 for talent pipeline management aligned with the framework 7
from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation; 8
(5) $250,000 to support existing or develop new programs and incentives 9
for existing worker training; 10
(6) $250,000 to support cybersecurity education at the kindergarten, 11
elementary school, and secondary school levels, including at summer camps; 12
(7) $250,000 for a marketing campaign, in consultation with the 13
Department of Commerce, to attract cyber talent and industry to the State; and 14
(8) $250,000 for the Maryland Statewide Computing Alignment to Locate 15
your Education (SCALE) portal. 16
(b) It is the intent of the General Assembly that the cybersecurity clinics under 17
subsection (a)(1) of this subsection: 18
(1) include five pilot programs, with each pilot program focused on one of 19
the following customer groups: 20
(i) emergency services; 21
(ii) water; 22
(iii) elementary and secondary schools; 23
(iv) health; and 24
(v) small businesses and nonprofits; and 25
(2) will: 26
(i) provide cyber awareness and training to customers; 27
(ii) perform cybersecurity assessments for customers; 28
(iii) provide recommendations for necessary remediations; and 29 12 HOUSE BILL 1468
(iv) install free or reduced–cost cybersecurity tools as part of the 1
grant or at a reduced rate to the end customer. 2
SECTION 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the terms of the initial 3
appointed members of the Cyber Maryland Board shall expire as follows: 4
(1) three members in 2026; 5
(2) two members in 2027; 6
(3) two members in 2028; and 7
(4) two members in 2029. 8
SECTION 5. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 9
October July 1, 2025. 10
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.