HB207 Alabama 2025 Session

Updated Feb 22, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Mike ShawRepresentative
Republican
Session: 2025 Regular Session
Title: Office of Information Technology, duties expanded to include cybersecurity and tasks previously performed by Division of Data Systems Management and Telecommunications Division of the Department of Finance
Summary: HB207 expands the Office of Information Technology to include cybersecurity, consolidates related divisions, creates a technology quality assurance board, and establishes a revolving fund, while repealing several legacy IT divisions.
What This Bill Does
It broadens the Office of Information Technology to handle cybersecurity and absorb duties from the former Division of Data Systems Management, the printing/publications manager, and the Telecommunications Division of the Department of Finance. It creates a technology quality assurance board to oversee new technologies and procurement. It sets up a Telecommunications Revolving Fund to collect and spend fees and appropriations for IT and cybersecurity work, and adds new powers and duties for planning, coordinating, and centralizing IT and telecom services, including criminal history checks for employees and contractors. It repeals several old IT division structures and becomes effective October 1, 2025.

Who It Affects
State agencies, which would rely on the Office of Information Technology for cybersecurity, IT, and telecommunications services, and would be charged proportionate costs for installations and operations.
Employees and contractors who work with state IT systems, who would be subject to criminal history background checks and fingerprinting, with results kept confidential and used to determine access to state IT systems.
Educational entities and related boards (county/city boards of education, community colleges, and public universities) which are exempt from some provisions but may receive consultative and procurement services from the office, and may continue certain telecom services with established funding arrangements.
The State Treasury and the Telecommunications Revolving Fund, which would receive deposits of fees and appropriations and use those funds to support IT and telecom projects, with year-end balances rolling over instead of returning to the General Fund.
The Legislature and Governor, who would oversee and review the new strategic plans, governance, and annual reporting on IT coordination and operations.

Key Provisions
Expands the Office of Information Technology to include cybersecurity and absorb duties from the previous Division of Data Systems Management, the printing/publications manager, and the Telecommunications Division of the Department of Finance, while repealing those legacy divisions.
Creates a Telecommunications Revolving Fund in the State Treasury to receive user fees and appropriations, allow for deposits and expenditures to implement the chapter, and carry over any remaining balances each fiscal year.
Adds new authorities and duties in 41-28-4 and related sections, including four-year strategic IT planning, centralized procurement and coordination of telecommunications and cybersecurity, establishment of an inventory and shared services, a central approval process for IT/telecom purchases, and mandatory criminal history checks for state employees and contractors with confidentiality protections for the results; includes exemptions for certain public safety and education entities and allows related consultation and procurement work.
Repeals Article 8, Article 9, and Article 11 of Chapter 4 Title 41 (legacy divisions) and sets an effective date of October 1, 2025.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: State Government