The future of cybersecurity in Texas has taken shape in San Antonio.

On June 2, Gov. Greg Abbott signed House Bill 150 into law, establishing the Texas Cyber Command at The University of Texas at San Antonio. The command center will take over much of Texas’ digital security responsibilities.

What they said

At the UTSA San Pedro I building in San Antonio, Abbott explained his reasoning behind the command center’s creation.



The governor said that cyberattacks from “hostile countries” happen frequently, endangering law enforcement agencies, health care centers and the state power grid, among other entities. He also pointed to the April cyberattack on the city of Killeen as a “wake-up call” for more security investment.


“One thing that brings us here is an unfortunate reality, and that is that our state is under constant attack that occurs thousands of times every single second of every single day,” Abbott said.

Abbott also reiterated what he said during his State of the State address in February: that San Antonio has one of the largest concentrations of "cyber expertise" in the nation to take on the "constant crimes" dealt with on a daily basis.

Also present at the bill signing ceremony were HB 150 author Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, R-Southlake, and bill sponsor Sen. Tan Parker, R-Flower Mound.

“What this bill is going to do [is] have one place where we’re able to have a focus on protecting our institutions and protecting our businesses from all of these attacks,” Capriglione said.


Parker added that the safety and security of Texans is the issue that keeps him “up most at night.”

“This is an enormous step forward in protecting [Texans’] safety and security,” Parker said. “It is the foundational piece every other liberty, freedom and blessing that we have has to be built upon.”

More details
The command will take over responsibilities held by the Texas Department of Information Resources. Capriglione added during House debate that it would also expand cybersecurity training requirements.

According to the bill text, general powers and duties of the command include:
  • Promoting public awareness of cybersecurity issues
  • Developing best cybersecurity practices and minimum standards for governmental entities
  • Providing support to state agencies and covered entities experiencing a cybersecurity incident
  • Administering a statewide portal for cybersecurity threat, risk and incident management
The definition of “cybersecurity incident” in the bill is the breach or suspected breach of system security, the introduction of ransomware into a computer network or system, or any other occurrence “that jeopardizes information or an information system.”


Estimated costs of the command are $135.54 million in the coming biennium and almost $350 million through 2030, according to the nonpartisan Legislative Budget Board. State and UTSA officials said that more than $60 million of initial costs will be covered by The University of Texas system.

What’s next

HB 150 will take effect Sept. 1.