Read the full stored bill text
S. B. No. 2625 *SS26/R1030CS* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/SS26/R1030CS
PAGE 1
To: Government Structure
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026
By: Senator(s) DeLano
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
FOR
SENATE BILL NO. 2625
AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE GOVERNOR TO APPOINT, WITH THE ADVICE 1
AND CONSENT OF THE SENATE, A CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER WHO SHALL 2
SERVE IN A CABINET POSITION; TO PRESCRIBE THE GENERAL POWERS AND 3
DUTIES OF THE CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER; TO AUTHORIZE THE CHIEF 4
INFORMATION OFFICER TO HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DO WHAT IS NECESSARY 5
TO ACCOMPLISH THE DUTIES PRESCRIBED UNDER THIS ACT; AND FOR 6
RELATED PURPOSES. 7
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 8
SECTION 1. (1) There is hereby created the Mississippi 9
Chief Information Officer (CIO), whom the Governor shall appoint, 10
with the advice and consent of the Senate and in accordance with 11
standards established by the State Personnel Board. The CIO shall 12
serve at the will and pleasure of the Governor in his or her 13
cabinet. The salary of the Chief Information Officer shall be set 14
by the Governor, subject to the approval of the State Personnel 15
Board, and shall be provided for out of any funds made available 16
for such purpose by the Legislature, the federal government or 17
other gifts or grants. The CIO shall be responsible to the 18
Governor for duties, which include serving as the chief policy 19
advisor to the Governor on statewide information technology and 20
S. B. No. 2625 *SS26/R1030CS* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS26/R1030CS
PAGE 2
cyber security issues, and assisting the Executive Director of the 21
Department of Information Technology Services with his or her 22
assigned duties and advising on the enforcement responsibilities 23
provided in Section 25-53-21. 24
(2) In carrying out his or her duties under this act, the 25
Chief Information Officer, shall: 26
(a) Be responsible for assisting in the protection of 27
the state's information assets and citizens' data; 28
(b) Advise the Department of Information Technology 29
Services on matters of information security and cyber security 30
strategies and the implementation of statewide modernization of 31
digital services; 32
(c) Promote the implementation of innovative solutions, 33
like AI, while ensuring data security and efficient information 34
technology operations; 35
(d) report annually to the Governor, and the report 36
shall: 37
(i) Summarize the state's current and projected 38
use of information technology and cyber security; 39
(ii) Outline the executive branch's strategic plan 40
to modernize information technology and cyber security utilization 41
statewide; 42
(iii) Provide a brief description of each state 43
agency's information technology plan and cyber security plan; and 44
S. B. No. 2625 *SS26/R1030CS* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS26/R1030CS
PAGE 3
ST: Chief Information Officer; create an
executive-appointed position.
(vi) Include the expenditure of the funds provided 45
for electronic technology, cyber security programs, equipment and 46
hardware; and 47
(e) Take such other action as he or she deems necessary 48
or appropriate to effectuate the purposes of this act. 49
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 50
and after July 1, 2026, and shall stand repealed on June 30, 2026. 51