Civic Tech

Inside a growing push from state and community leaders to modernize re-entry, reduce recidivism and strengthen public safety through technology. Digital literacy, one said, can be a major barrier.

The City Council has approved three contracts to replace its veteran accounting, payroll and human resources management software. A consulting firm will help with oversight and advisory services.

After roughly 90 minutes of public comment, nearly all in opposition, the Flagstaff City Council voted to end its contract for automated license plate readers. The devices came into use last year.

The Marin County Digital Accelerator takes an agile approach to gov tech, moving fast to get work done. A recent project found a “single source of truth” to modernize planning and permitting.

The Bismarck Municipal Court system handled nearly 87,000 new cases from 2020-2024 and saw a 40 percent caseload increase in 2024. Officials are examining what systems might be upgraded to handle the additional burden.

The County Council signed off on $34 million in contracts to update the enterprise resource planning system, which manages a variety of processes. A councilman wondered if it might streamline other county functions.

City Council members got an online tour of the new public-facing webpage, created as a reliable way to disseminate public safety information, earlier this week. It’s the latest update to an existing system.

The U.S. Digital Response, a civic tech organization, has announced the recipients of its 2025 Digital Service Champions Awards, which honor state and local government modernization efforts.

A pact between the Southeastern Public Service Authority of Virginia and an AI-powered recycling company is expected to enable the technology to increase recycling and divert a significant amount of landfill waste.

The Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting has temporarily shuttered its building permit counter to resolve a backlog. Other services remain open. A “first look” at new AI software is imminent.

The technology has begun responding to 10 types of low-risk, non-emergency calls, including information requests, for Emporia, Kan.; Lyon County; and Emporia State University. Escalations are transferred to humans.

The $11.5 million allotment for the Commonwealth Office of Digital Experience is intended to support single sign-on access, website upgrades and broader modernization across agencies.

The small mountain town of Vail, Colo., has introduced agentic AI tools to aid in fire detection, public engagement and other areas. Being more efficient with mundane, everyday tasks is a key focus.

Georgetown University’s Beeck Center for Social Impact + Innovation has created a national map that highlights how governments are building capacity for 21st-century service delivery. Progress varies widely.

The city’s existing system is legacy, and its bench of staff who can handle support is thin. City Council members awarded a three-year contract for new software, after the city received four such proposals.

A new multi-agency effort is intended to bring AI tools to residents, to simplify access to benefits, reduce child poverty and improve housing access. The endeavor will let staffers embed AI in daily workflows.

The new Heartland AI Caucus unites six states under bipartisan leadership to shape regional AI strategies and foster innovation. Arkansas, Illinois, Louisiana, Ohio, Oklahoma and Tennessee are founding members.

The program will debut on a handful of streets in town limits. Drivers observed going 10 or more miles per hour over the speed limit will be cited. The technology will only capture images of speeding vehicles.