Episode 9D: 2026 DIR-Certified Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity Training: Featuring the Cyber Guy and Hacker Hank!! Artwork

Local Officials: Stronger, Together Podcast

The Texas Municipal League Intergovernmental Risk Pool proudly introduces the Local Officials: Stronger, Together Podcast Series. The Pool is producing this regular podcast series, which has been dubbed STP, to help local officials (and managers and staff) understand key operational and legal concepts, and the services the Pool provides. After arming members with that information, each 15-minute episode will give easy action items to help keep your citizens, employees, volunteers, and property safe, all while saving public dollars. City council members can earn up to 19 Texas Municipal League Institute CEUs for listening to the podcasts. To receive CEUs for a particular episode, an elected official must provide a description of the episode, which must be educational in nature, pertain to municipal leadership, and should enhance your service as an elected official, for TML approval. Attorneys who listen to podcasts may be eligible for up to three hours of self-study CLE credit. Please refer to the State Bar CLE compliance rules for more information.

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Local Officials: Stronger, Together Podcast

Episode 9D: 2026 DIR-Certified Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity Training: Featuring the Cyber Guy and Hacker Hank!!

March 02, 2026 • Scott Houston • Season 1 • Episode 9

0:00 | 36:46

Texas Government Code Section 2054.5191 mandates artificial intelligence and cybersecurity training for local government employees, elected officials, and appointed officials who have access to a local government computer system or database and use a computer to perform at least 25 percent of their duties. The training must be certified by the Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR) — both this podcast and the YouTube video linked to the left are DIR-approved.

This episode isn’t some boring episode. Instead, join the Risk Pool Cyber Guy — Ryan Burns — and his buddy — Hacker Hank — as they discuss ways that “Hank Hacks” trick local government employees into sending money, downloading ransomware, and more, along with newly-mandated artificial intelligence training.

A local governmental entity must keep track of participants internally and certify its compliance by August 31, 2026, using the Cybersecurity Training Certification for State and Local Governments form.

Further Information:

OPTIONAL, self-administered cybersecurity and/or artificial intelligence test with answer key.
Artificial Intelligence Presentation

Scott Houston

Host