Cybersecurity - Standards, Compliance, and Audits - Alterations

This bill modifies Maryland's cybersecurity requirements for public schools by removing the mandate that county school boards prioritize purchasing digital devices with certain education funds. Instead, it requires local school systems to comply with state minimum cybersecurity standards and conduct a cybersecurity maturity assessment every two years, with certification due to the Department of Information Technology. The Department of Information Technology must annually update these cybersecurity standards, while the Office of Legislative Audits will reference them during relevant audits. Additionally, the state will provide information security officers to assist local school systems with cybersecurity functions, and reporting requirements for technology spending will now include specific data on cybersecurity expenditures.