State Government

From Oklahoma to Mississippi to New Hampshire, nearly a dozen states are putting their imprint on the government efficiency movement in the form of committees and task forces, looking to improve operations.

The state’s new threat assessment report focuses on how cyber criminals are using the newest tools to hack into systems and mount ransomware attacks on governments. The threats could be especially acute this year.

Hundreds of technology partners focused on the public sector gathered outside Washington, D.C., for the annual Beyond the Beltway event, an industry-focused forecast of what 2025 looks like for state and local IT.

Jon Gjestvang, who led IT for the Bay Area county through wildfires and the COVID-19 pandemic, will wrap his 23-year career as CIO at the end of February. The organization’s deputy CIO will take over as interim CIO.

The state’s House of Representatives has passed a bill that would regulate virtual currency kiosks — licensing operators and capping the amount someone can put into a kiosk daily. It has moved to the state Senate.

A Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit has created a platform where government workers and others can share how federal contract terminations, staff cuts and data issues impact their work without using personal information.

The state’s House of Representatives advanced legislation this week that would create a task force dedicated to reviewing state programs and identifying areas in which officials could improve efficiency.

The Oregon State Government Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council, which was established by a 2023 executive order, has just released an action plan to guide government use of the technology.

States are increasingly banning DeepSeek AI on government devices, citing cybersecurity and data privacy concerns. Some cybersecurity experts question if the state bans will do enough to protect American data.

A fledgling push to promote reforestation and climate mitigation relies on interactive maps and tracking tools. The state also hopes to plant more trees into "disadvantaged communities" by 2033.

States are beginning to offer such programs in a pay-as-you-go format, as an alternative to the flat fees attached to electric vehicle and other high miles-per-gallon cars that pay little or no gas taxes.

Iowa’s governor believes the state’s government is “too big” and is now following in the footsteps of the presidential administration by creating a statewide DOGE task force to reduce spending.

A proposed state Senate bill would change the name of the Arkansas Department of Transformation and Shared Services, and compel creation of the “Safe Arkansas App.” It would also hone policy on how departments use tech resources.

The state economic development agency has debuted a new division, Louisiana Innovation. Its responsibilities will include developing the Louisiana Institute for Artificial Intelligence, a nonprofit.

By using digital twins and integrating artificial intelligence into its procurement process, the state has been able to cut inefficiencies, get better pricing and drive transparency.

State applications and some websites were unreachable for a time on Thursday after incoming and outgoing traffic was stopped. Emails emphasized there were no problems with the apps, or data vulnerabilities.

Evelina Broussard will lead the state’s Office of Technology Services after 28 years with gas distributor Atmos Energy. Her appointment closely follows the departure of now-former CIO Derek Williams.

If there was a universal theme in 2025 speeches, it was smartphone bans in schools. But governors also outlined plans and accomplishments in cybersecurity, modernization and digital government.