Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility PA House committees hold meeting on protecting local governments from cyberthreats

PA House committees hold meeting on protecting local governments from cyberthreats

Rep. Joseph Ciresi, Rep. Robert L. Freeman    February 26, 2026 | 4:33 PM

HARRISBURG, Feb. 26 – This week, the House Communications & Technology and Local Government committees held a joint informational meeting on the cybersecurity-related threats facing local governments and the investments necessary to protect them from the expensive and disruptive consequences of ransomware attacks and system breaches.

The goal of the meeting was for the two committees to gain a broad understanding of the increasing prevalence of cyber incidents and the threats they pose to American government and society from the federal to the local level, recent attacks on critical infrastructure, the ownership landscape of national infrastructure, the changing technology of cybersecurity including artificial intelligence (AI) and post-quantum cryptography, the unique cybersecurity needs of local governmental entities of various types and sizes, and recommended best practices.

At the meeting, the committees heard from:

  • Cybersecurity experts: Randy Trzeciak; director, Masters of Science Information Security Policy & Management Program, and deputy director, Cyber Risk and Resilience, Software Engineering Institute, CERT Division, Carnegie Mellon University; and Heather Morton; director, Financial Services, Technology and Communications, National Conference of State Legislatures.
  • Cybersecurity providers: Thomas MacLellan, director, Government Affairs & Strategy, Palo Alto Networks; and Dr. Justin Davis, director of cybersecurity integration and innovation, Unisys.
  • Local government: Dave Glass, Clearfield County commissioner, first vice president, County Commissioners Association of PA; Craig Fahnestock, deputy executive director of member services, Pennsylvania Municipal Authorities Association, Holly Fishel, policy & research director, Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors; and Kevin Busher, chief advocacy officer, Pennsylvania School Boards Association.

“The security and welfare of our communities are under attack by increasingly sophisticated cyberthreats,” said Rep. Joe Ciresi, D-Montgomery, House Communications & Technology chair.

“Increasingly with the help of AI, these attacks are occurring more rapidly and with greater accuracy. The battlefield of the 21st century isn’t fought on land or on sea, but across the internet, with the potential to destroy the services on which our lives depend. We must do everything we can to insulate our computer systems, networks and digital devices from targeted attacks. I am grateful to our panelists for their in-depth discussion of their needs, the threats cyberattacks pose and the steps we can take as a state to stop them.”

“Cybersecurity has emerged as a critical concern as local governments now extend their responsibilities beyond traditional infrastructure management to safeguard digital systems and critical citizen data in an increasingly digital municipal environment,” said Rep. Bob Freeman, D-Northampton, House Local Government chair.

“Without proper security many essential services and sensitive information kept at the local level could be threatened by bad actors. In 2023, the Aliquippa Water Authority suffered from an Iranian cyber-attack that disrupted their operations and revealed critical issues in cyber-security management. Equally concerning is that such attacks could also leak sensitive information about our constituents whom these institutions are designed to serve. The integration of cybersecurity with local government operations is crucial for protecting critical infrastructure and reducing cyber risk.”

The meeting was live-streamed and a recording is available here.