# State and Local Government Cybersecurity Act of 2021

This bill is designed to help state and local governments protect themselves from cyberattacks and data breaches. It recognizes that cities, counties, and state agencies handle sensitive information about residents—everything from driver's licenses to property records to utility systems—and these organizations often lack the resources and expertise to defend against sophisticated hackers and criminals.

The bill creates a framework to help these government entities improve their cybersecurity defenses. It encourages information sharing between federal agencies and state and local governments so that when a cyberattack happens somewhere, other communities can learn about it and protect themselves. Think of it like a neighborhood watch program, but for digital threats. If one city gets hit by ransomware (malicious software that locks up computer systems until money is paid), other cities in the region can get a heads-up about what to watch for.

The legislation also aims to make it easier for state and local governments to get federal support and guidance on cybersecurity best practices. This includes helping them understand what security measures they should have in place and connecting them with resources to implement those protections. For everyday people, this matters because better cybersecurity at your local government means your personal information—your address, tax records, vehicle registration, and other data they hold—is less likely to be stolen or exposed in a breach. It also helps protect critical services like water systems, traffic lights, and emergency response systems that communities depend on.

State and Local Government Cybersecurity Act of 2021

Peters, Gary C.

State and Local Government Cybersecurity Act of 2021 This bill provides for collaboration between the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and state, local, tribal, and territorial governments, as well as corporations, associations, and the general public, regarding cybersecurity. The bill expands DHS responsibilities through grants and cooperative agreements, including provision of assistance and education related to cyber threat indicators, proactive and defensive measures and cybersecurity technologies, cybersecurity risks and vulnerabilities, incident response and management, analysis, and warnings. The bill requires the National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center to coordinate with entities such as the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center to (1) conduct exercises, (2) provide operational and technical cybersecurity training, and (3) promote cybersecurity education and awareness. DHS shall establish a pilot program to deploy network sensors for the purpose of identifying and filtering malicious network traffic.