HARRISBURG – Two bills from Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill’s (R-York) comprehensive cybersecurity legislative package have unanimously advanced out of the Senate Communications and Technology Committee.
The first bill bans TikTok from all state-owned devices and networks due to growing national security concerns, aligning Pennsylvania with federal guidelines and the actions of more than 39 other states, as well as steps taken by Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity. The second bill requires all state IT contracts to meet cybersecurity standards set by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, helping to ensure stronger protections for taxpayer-funded technology projects and reducing the risk of data breaches across state systems.
“Back in March, I made it clear that cybersecurity would be a top priority this session and today, we’re taking meaningful steps forward,” Phillips-Hill said. “These measures reflect best practices that other states and the federal government are already implementing to protect against bad actors. If we want to stay ahead of cyber threats, we need to take proactive, proven steps to secure our data and defend our systems.”
Both measures are part of a broader package introduced by Phillips-Hill to modernize and safeguard the Commonwealth’s information technology infrastructure. The legislation now heads to the full Senate for further consideration.