These Five New Laws Are Reshaping the State's IT Department

The Department of Information Resources (DIR) will take on a number of new responsibilities this upcoming biennium thanks to six bills signed by Gov. Greg Abbott in June.

As the state’s IT department, DIR is responsible for managing and securing the technology infrastructure of the Texas government. The agency manages cooperative contracts for technology products and services, allowing state agencies, local governments, and public education entities to purchase IT solutions at negotiated rates.

Five House bills signed into law this session directly impact DIR and its functions.

HB 150 transfers cybersecurity responsibilities from DIR to the newly established Texas Cyber Command, including incident response, developing statewide cybersecurity standards and maintaining an incident reporting hotline. The shift intends to allow DIR to focus on IT procurement, shared technology services and digital government initiatives.

HB 1500 extends DIR’s lifespan until Sept. 1, 2037, with new operational requirements and an expansion of its governing board to 11 members. DIR will be tasked with developing a voluntary procurement training course for state employees, an electronic advertising system for posting state assistance opportunities and advisory committees.

HB 2818 establishes an artificial intelligence division within DIR responsible for overseeing the use of AI technologies by state agencies. HB 3512 expands upon the agency’s AI-related responsibilities, requiring DIR to develop and implement AI training programs for state employees and officials.

HB 5195 outlines efforts to be made by state agencies to assess and modernize their websites. DIR is tasked with leading these efforts to enhance the efficiency and accessibility of state services.

DIR is due to receive a $1.6 billion budget and a $17.6 million IT capital budget for the biennium when Senate Bill 1 takes effect on Sept. 1.

DIR CIO Amanda Crawford will speak at the State of Technology — Texas Industry Forum 2025 on Sept. 4. For information on attending, contact Brad Loebs or visit the Industry Insider — Texas website.