State Government

State and local agencies have until Dec. 31 to commit federal funds they received through the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund as part of the response to the pandemic. Anything not obligated must be returned.

Elevated to lead state technology in October 2018, Dedmon is a nearly 20-year state staffer and former deputy CIO. Her recent work has included guiding a refresh of the unemployment insurance system.

Artificial intelligence training should be mandatory for state employees to better prepare California for the anticipated growth of the new technology, a new report has recommended.

John Toney, the state’s chief information security officer, has been appointed a visiting fellow by the National Security Institute. Through this position, he will learn from cyber execs, building his knowledge to better serve Vermonters.

The state’s unemployment office reports significant benefits from the new technology, which officials said could help government agencies in and outside the state avoid long-term contracts with vendors.

An expert offers insights on how government agencies, frequent targets online, can safeguard critical infrastructure and future-proof their cybersecurity. Also under consideration: artificial intelligence’s dual role in security.

The environmental costs of using artificial intelligence tools is an area of growing concern for government technology officials. Transparency from vendors can shed light on their energy and water usage.

The State Transportation Board has picked a private-sector collaborator to handle maintenance, operations and commercialization as it builds out 1,400 miles of high-speed Internet infrastructure on all Georgia interstates.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology has released an updated edition of a publication that covers running a program to measure cybersecurity performance, and choosing what to measure.

The endeavor, on the University of California, Los Angeles campus, is intended to make charging seamless. Its infrastructure, to be in place by the 2028 Summer Olympic Games, could be used by numerous transit operators.

The state is broadening a cybersecurity vulnerability assessment program to include water and wastewater utilities. Officials aim to do at least 342 tailored security examinations by 2026 to help local governments.

Created by Gov. Phil Murphy in October 2023, the group wrapped up last month by issuing a required report with recommendations. It could be re-formed if needed, but the state’s work in artificial intelligence continues.

In the biannual Digital States Survey, top performers are prioritizing cybersecurity and constituent services, as well as harnessing AI. The following takeaways offer a snapshot view.

The audit, the first of its kind, demonstrated a nearly identical match to the count done on election night, using tech to read the text on all 5.3 million Georgia ballots. Nearly all inconsistencies were caused by unclear marks on absentee ballots that required human review.

The state first published its policy and procedure for generative artificial intelligence in March. Since then, officials made several updates to address the changing needs this type of technology creates.

A program in several northeastern states is attempting to bridge training gaps for EV technicians in disadvantaged communities. The endeavor, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, focuses on the need for municipal fleet mechanics.

The work of state-level CISOs is expanding to help serve the cyber needs of small municipalities and vulnerable groups, a NASCIO report affirms. Whole-of-state cybersecurity and grants are helping drive the endeavor.

The new three-year technology road map will serve state government as a whole. It builds on the work of a previous plan, Vision 2023, said state CIO Liana Bailey-Crimmins, director of the California Department of Technology.