Texas Senate Bill SB1908

Texas 2021 - 87th Regular

Caption

Relating to the purchase of cybersecurity insurance coverage by the Texas Department of Transportation.

Impact

The bill specifically allows TxDOT to acquire insurance coverage to guard against various liabilities, including revenue and property losses resulting from cyber incidents. This coverage may encompass multiple facets of cybersecurity-related losses, such as business interruption due to cyber attacks, response to breaches, data recovery, and expenses related to incident management. The intention behind SB1908 is to bolster the department's financial resiliency in the face of evolving cyber threats.

Summary

SB1908 is a legislative proposal that focuses on enhancing cybersecurity measures within the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) by enabling it to purchase cybersecurity insurance. By defining a 'cyber attack' as an attempt to unlawfully access a computer system for damaging purposes, the bill sets the groundwork for a proactive approach to mitigating potential risks associated with data breaches.

Contention

While the text of SB1908 addresses critical aspects of cybersecurity insurance, the bill and its implications may lead to discussions regarding the adequacy and types of coverage necessary for adequately protecting public entities like TxDOT. There may also be concerns about the overall state budget allocation for cybersecurity measures and whether investing in such insurance is a sufficient response to the increasing frequency and sophistication of cyber threats faced by public infrastructure.