Government Technology

Open Source Bill Introduced in Oregon


March 6, 2003 By

SALEM, Ore. -- An Oregon lawmaker introduced a bill Thursday that would require state agencies to "consider the use of open source software" for all new software acquisitions.

"Oregon could save millions of dollars while achieving very high reliability in its computing needs," State Representative Phil Barnhart said in a statement on the introduction of the bill, HB 2892.

Unlike California's Digital Software Security Act, Oregon's bill does not mandate the use of open source software. The bill only requires that it be "on the list" of approved products for state use. It also requires state agencies to provide justification to the taxpayers any time proprietary software is purchased.

Several independent studies have found open source software to be faster, more reliable and less costly than proprietary products produced by Microsoft and others, and many governments around the world are already switching to open source, according to Barnhart's office, citing recent applications based on an open source model developed by Rhode Island's Office of the Secretary of State.

If the measure passes, Barnhart's office said, Oregon will become the first U.S. state to embody open source recognition into law.


You may use or reference this story with attribution and a link to
http://www.govtech.com/security/Open-Source-Bill-Introduced-in-Oregon.html


| More

Comments

Add Your Comment

You are solely responsible for the content of your comments. We reserve the right to remove comments that are considered profane, vulgar, obscene, factually inaccurate, off-topic, or considered a personal attack.

GovTech Papers and Case Studies View Library


Government Best Practices


Collaboration for the Public Sector


Collaborative Justice: Transforming Criminal Justice Services Through Unified Collaboration
This issue brief examines video collaboration in every stage of the human justice process, demonstrating how this technology can not only make services more efficient, affordable, and accessible.

Cloud-Based Services Accelerate Public Sector Adoption of Video Collaboration
Today, thanks to new cloud technologies and high-quality networks, mobile video services - which provide not only cost savings but which help governmental interactions become more efficient - are more feasible than ever before.

Modernization as a Service: Acquiring IT through Innovative Procurement

Five Ways Collaboration is Driving Government Performance

Mobile Video Collaboration: The New Business Reality
 

Government Technology
Public CIO
Emergency Management
Digital Communities