State Government

From the American Rescue Plan and the infrastructure bill to cybersecurity and ransomware policy, state and local governments felt the full effects of support from the Biden administration during the president's first year.

Indiana’s 2021 cybersecurity strategy aims to provide a variety of practical tools and education supports. Cybersecurity program director Chetrice Mosley-Romero says it puts a particular focus on helping local government.

After a year of facing legal opposition from determined residents of Dewey Beach, Del., Verizon has agreed to a settlement. The company has stated it will move five 5G poles off a beachfront.

In Massachusetts, lawmakers are asking the state’s Executive Office of Technology Services and Security to consider cloud computing options with newly proposed legislation. The move is driven by similar legislation in other states.

Following the departure of former CISO Nolan Leatherwood in April 2021, Gary Vance has stepped into the top cyber position. He shared the challenges inherent to a jump to the public sector and key initiatives underway.

Last weekend, the Maryland Department of Health took its website offline after cyber criminals attacked the site. The site has been restored since, and officials say no data was stolen.

When it comes to technology plans that involve hardware and equipment, state and local government IT leaders are feeling the pinch because of global supply chain delays. What can be done as the crisis continues?

Yesterday, Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee said an app that can show proof of a resident's COVID-19 vaccination status should be ready in a couple of weeks. State businesses can decide whether they require such proof.

Virtual hearings and e-filing tools bring convenience — but not to everyone. Individuals representing themselves in civil cases can struggle with limited digital offerings and user experiences designed for lawyers.

Gov. Gavin Newsom has announced that CIO Amy Tong will become the new director of the Office of Digital Innovation, a forward-looking government technology laboratory and incubator, effective next month.

The 3rd District Court of Appeal in Sacramento, Calif., rejected yet another civil lawsuit alleging that the California high-speed rail project is unconstitutional. The decision came yesterday.

Appalachian Power believes it may have middle-mile infrastructure in place by February 2022 that would allow a provider to bring broadband service to two rural counties, Logan and Mingo, in West Virginia.

Yesterday, the ACLU said it filed a lawsuit against the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training because the agency didn't respond appropriately to an ACLU records request about facial recognition.

CIO Alan Cunningham stepped down Nov. 26, after his job responsibilities “totally changed,” he says. He tells GovTech the IT department struggled with limited resources, overwork and restrictive policies.

Two large tech industry groups want to block the state’s new social media law, which allows users to sue companies if they are blocked or their posts are removed on any social media platform.

Massachusetts could soon roll out a digital COVID-19 vaccination passport, Gov. Charlie Baker said Monday afternoon, noting that Massachusetts is part of a coalition of states working to develop the technology.

Officials with the New Mexico Department of Information Technology acknowledged Monday the state has not done enough to prepare for wide expansion of broadband access, particularly across tribal lands.