Government Experience

After signing a bill in April to create the office, Gov. Greg Abbott has elevated an executive vice president at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, a nonprofit research organization, to lead it.

The North Central Texas Council of Governments and the Southwest Research Institute will develop a Transportation System Management and Operations data exchange platform, to improve coordination on regional mobility.

After years of having to bring a check to the hospital, parents can now just fill out a digital form, pay with a credit card and receive the birth certificate in about two days.

Veteran technologist Alison Deigan, who spent two decades in federal service and oversaw a $150 million technology portfolio, has been appointed the county’s new IT director. The role, she said, has personal significance.

An online portal and database of state-registered charitable organizations aims to make it easier for people to find info about charities and their finances, according to the Office of the Illinois Attorney General.

The organization’s new solutions and service blueprints provide states with step-by-step guidance to identify challenges, simplify reporting and improve residents’ access to SNAP and Medicaid benefits.

Gretchen Peri has succeeded Nick Stowe as chief technology officer at Washington Technology Solutions. Stowe, in service as CTO since March 2023, will depart the agency at the end of the year.

With residents and workforce in mind, the state CIO and the Oklahoma Office of Management and Enterprise Services plan to continue moving toward modernization, transparency and integration.

Justin Sherwood, who has been chosen to lead county technology, aims to modernize systems, strengthen cybersecurity and enhance public services. He has more than a decade of experience in North Carolina municipal IT.

In a video interview, a Tyler Technologies exec talked about new public agency requirements for website and mobile accessibility, coming a little more than 35 years after the Americans with Disabilities Act became law.

The Sacramento-area city has plans to transition its fleet of 1,000 city vehicles and more than 40 buses to electric by 2040. A digital twin is helping leaders learn more about how their conveyances are used.

The state’s integrated digital approach to providing emergency services in one online location, following this year’s fires, is unprecedented. It is intended, officials said, to serve as an example in future disasters.

The Silicon Valley city has announced a new pilot coming this fall, which aims to use AI technology to speed up the building permitting process. It follows an array of recent AI initiatives in the city.

States that are ahead of the accessibility curve and serving people with disabilities with tools they can use can manage risks and reduce costs, the National Association of State Chief Information Officers finds.

Garrison Coward, the state’s former deputy chief transformation officer, has been elevated to the helm. The role supports cabinet secretaries and agency heads in everything from project management to creating tech solutions.

Staffers in Bellevue, Wash., are using a new tool with artificial intelligence to handle certain tasks, including responding to resident inquiries. The pilot is now focused on “real-world scenarios.”

With a $643,000 investment, Phoenix is now utilizing Versaterm’s AI-driven CallTriage system to help residents, shorten wait times and keep lines clear for emergencies. It went live earlier this month.

Louisiana’s capital city is looking for its next top technology exec as CIO Eric Romero prepares to depart. He has served three decades in its IT division and has been its director since 2012.