Policy

A Government Technology tracker of the evolving landscape of state government efficiency initiatives, distinguishing between those directly inspired by federal DOGE directives and independent programs.

Texas lawmakers are trying to figure out how the state's already-strained power grid can keep up with the data centers that want to come to the state and consume large amounts of electricity.

The bill, which would ban using the algorithms critics and investigators have said were used to raise apartment rents in Denver and nationally, now heads to the state Senate. A similar measure died there last year.

President Donald Trump and Georgia lawmakers both say they want to encourage innovation in the field of artificial intelligence. But they are poised to take different approaches.

Alabama and Oklahoma are the latest states to block AI tools with overseas ties from being used on government devices. Concerns include a lack of security as well as data collection and storage practices.

After previously mandating in-person learning, Kentucky lawmakers came to the defense of a growing virtual academy that had low test scores and did not follow state guidelines for class sizes and standardized testing.

Gov. Kay Ivey released the group’s final report on GenAI use in state agencies. It recommends a standardized framework, stronger oversight and training to guide the responsible use of the technology.

It’s not only about the research funding that has made America a world leader in innovation. Community and technical colleges are crucial to meeting our workforce needs.

In lieu of federal leadership on ed-tech issues from the digital divide to cybersecurity to AI governance, state education technology offices will have to step up with investments, training, advocacy and partnerships.

The Minnesota Department of Education created an online portal Thursday where people can report whether President Trump’s executive order to close the U.S. Department of Education affects local school communities.

Two bills now under consideration could change who gets to ride so-called electric-assisted bikes and similar conveyances. Some elected officials support letting kids as young as 12 ride e-bikes, with additional safety regulations.

House Bill 241 would bar new enrollment limits on virtual schooling programs until 2028. Critics say the legislation is another way to devote taxpayer funds to programs other than public schools.

The Florida State Appropriations Committee has proposed a bill that would create the Agency for State Systems and Enterprise Technology and replace the existing IT agency, the Florida Digital Service, by June 2026.

From IT decentralization to education spending transparency, state legislators are looking to cut waste, improve oversight and reshape agency responsibilities. Bills address tech, cybersecurity, procurement and outdated language.

The governor and lawmakers propose closing a state budget deficit in part by taxing large website and cloud computing providers. The state Senate minority leader questioned how the economy can grow if innovation is stifled.

Contrary to promises that the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) would not be affected by cuts, the data-collecting agency was stripped of the vast majority of its workforce.

The Loveland City Council has approved a new technology fee on building permits that will generate enough revenue to pay annual maintenance costs and a new IT employee to support it.

A Request for Information in February on the federal “Development of an Artificial Intelligence Action Plan” has garnered responses from a variety of industry and public-sector stakeholders offering recommendations.