HB1557

House Bill 1557 expands the authority and responsibilities of the Arkansas Division of Information Systems (DIS) to oversee state information technology (IT) infrastructure and procurement. The bill updates the definition of 'information technology' to include modern components such as cybersecurity, privacy, third-party hosting, and emerging technology. It mandates the creation of a unified biennial statewide IT plan that incorporates disaster recovery, asset management, and detailed budget reporting from state agencies. Furthermore, the bill establishes a centralized IT governance model, allowing the DIS to set mandatory minimum standards and oversee project management to reduce duplicative efforts and costs. It also institutes stricter procurement oversight, requiring state agencies to obtain approval from the Director of the DIS for most IT-related contracts or acquisitions exceeding defined monetary thresholds. Finally, the bill requires annual performance reporting on statewide IT projects to the Joint Committee on Advanced Communications and Information Technology.