Permitting and Licensing

Lancaster, located in Los Angeles County, has deployed an AI-powered permitting system from the compliance tech firm Labrynth. The city’s mayor talks about the benefits of the tool, and what comes next.

Oklahoma and Arizona are among the states moving agency call centers to the cloud to shrink the size of their customer queues, expand self-service options and offer multilingual capabilities.

Arlington Capital Partners bought licensing tech firm GovOS and combined it with two portfolio companies. The new CEO and a gov tech investment expert talk about what this deal means.

The state has been fast-tracking the permitting process at the governor’s direction, following an executive order. Now, officials are leveraging these improvements to invite business growth.

The city Department of Planning and Permitting has deployed new software intended to speed up site development, zoning and planning applications. It replaces a platform that was taken offline in late July.

The city of more than 100,000 is vying for a digital innovation grant for a project involving the use of artificial intelligence to modernize the permitting process. Work would begin in September if it receives the funding.

The state’s digital ID program, free and voluntary, continues to grow as more airports and bars accept those forms of identification. Other states are expanding their own mobile ID programs.

The state Senate and House of Representatives have both halted a bill that would have compelled the state to stop issuing drivers’ licenses and ID cards. As of April 1, just 27 percent of Mainers have a Real ID.

The latest in a series of text message schemes, this one messages residents’ cellphones seeking information. The state’s Department of Motor Vehicles commissioner said the agency does not ask for personal data over the phone.

If approved, the state’s 2025-2026 proposed budget would fund pilots in Forsyth and Guilford counties to enable remote driver’s license renewals. Options could include home visits or third-party assistance.

The Florida office at Midway Crossings will close Saturday and reopen Monday. Technology changes on the way include credit card machines at each checkout window and software to thwart appointment hoarding.

The government technology heavyweight has bought ePermitHub. That company’s technology will help Accela customers further streamline and automate public agency permitting tasks, including via the use of AI.

Gov. Jeff Landry has declared an emergency via executive order as the state grapples with service disruptions at Office of Motor Vehicles sites. Some late fees are being waived for expired Class E drivers’ licenses.

The Mineral County Treasurer’s Office and the state are readying a new vehicle services system, to refresh vehicle titling and registration. Services will be fully restored Monday morning, per the state website.

The state has a reputation for high housing costs and bureaucracy in front of developers. But city planners hope a new online tool could help make it easier for residents to build smaller shelters.

The system issues began roughly three weeks ago and are believed to be related to online traffic. Officials will work weekends to implement possible solutions, and are reviewing options for a larger upgrade.

Backed by private equity and based in the Midwest, gWorks sells billing, permitting and other tools to local governments, utilities and special districts. BBI, meanwhile, has more than 300 clients in Mississippi and Louisiana.

The state Department of Motor Vehicles announced availability of the digital driver’s license, learner permit or ID in June 2024. It is accepted at a growing number of businesses and airports in New York and nationally.