State Government

Lawmakers are considering a bill that would compel social media companies to change how their platforms are designed, to keep children from harm. It would require features to mitigate compulsive use, deceptive marketing and other practices.

State officials have made several changes to the IT procurement process in an effort to expand public-private partnership opportunities, increase efficiency for businesses, and save taxpayers money.

Lawmakers in Arkansas and Missouri are considering legislation that would bolster cyber reporting and data privacy standards for businesses; and, in Texas, tighten cybersecurity standards for water utilities.

Created by gubernatorial executive order, the state’s new Department of Governmental Efficiency team will work to “promote efficiency, maximize productivity and eliminate waste in state and local government.”

From working to improve the citizen experience to advancing artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, Utah’s tech leader is focused on the value of investing in the “human capital” of the state workforce.

The state has rolled out access to real-time aerial surveillance technology to all Ohio law enforcement agencies. The technology includes live video feeds and infrared capabilities, and could transform suspect searches.

Gov. Ron DeSantis’ fiscal year 2026 proposed budget recommendations include funding for state IT projects across criminal justice. Initiatives include hardening security, replacing infrastructure and a platform upgrade.

Watchdogs and regulators are concerned new data centers could weigh heavily on residents’ power bills without proper curbs. One utility’s request to tweak an electric rate comes in part to confront those concerns.

Cuts to CISA and the FBI’s Foreign Influence Task Force have secretaries of state and municipal clerks worried about the security of voter registration databases and other critical election systems.

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.