State Government

The Washington state courts network remains offline more than a week after officials found “unauthorized activity.” The administrative courts office took it down Nov. 4 “out of an abundance of caution” and leaders are hopeful it can be restored next week.

Plus, Oregon announces more than $100 million in funding for broadband, more states have been awarded federal funding, a new report aims to support nonprofit organizations in their digital equity work, and more.

Francesca Ioffreda has a long list of job experiences that include consulting and economic development. She will lead a team funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies — an effort her new employer expects other states to imitate.

A new state online portal, the Virginia Veterans Network connects veterans, military service members and their families with everything from health care to legal and employment support. The site provides links to hundreds of organizations.

State CIO Matthew McCarville said he believes the state’s information technology reorganization and modernization efforts have laid the foundation for innovation, capacity building and cost savings.

Many state governments are implementing AI technologies. A new NASCIO report offers insight into current use cases, the role of state CIOs and recommendations for states exploring generative AI implementation.

State and local governments are moving toward constituent-centric digital services, using new and old tech to introduce new conveniences that simplify customer interactions.

The state Department of Transportation is continuing work on Route 15 in Norwalk, installing vehicle detection cameras with artificial intelligence on ramps entering the city. Workers stood up similar infrastructure last summer elsewhere in the area.

While generative AI is still in the early days of government implementation, it's important for public-sector leaders to lay groundwork for successful use and adoption.

State Attorney General Rob Bonta said he will work with a lawmaker during the next legislative session to introduce a bill requiring the labels. Asked whether he’d be open to similar disclosures for artificial intelligence programs, he said it was too early to say for certain.

The Virginia Information Technologies Agency is spearheading work to improve the accessibility and usability of state sites. It is providing oversight, tools and resources to other agencies to update their online presence.

Guided by a consultant, the state group has opted to plan for putting an extra 15,000 Mainers in electric vehicles by the end of the decade to meet emissions reductions targets. Green hydrogen, members decided, is not likely to be commercially viable as soon as had been hoped.

Driven by personal experience and an inclusive vision, Patricia Rucker is leading the campaign for universal school choice across her state. An advocate for comprehensive legislation, she supports a range of educational options.

CIO Joe McIntosh took the state tech leadership job in July 2023 after previous state service. He took “full responsibility” for what he called an “oversight” and agreed to pay a civil penalty.

Artificial intelligence is poised to become the next big energy hog and data centers stand to challenge sustainability goals. Some processing demands, however, can be shifted to periods when demand is low.

Many state legislatures are trying to get ahead of self-driving vehicles that eventually will be on roads by setting standards for the vehicles and rules for law enforcement if they see one breaking a traffic law.

A recent university research study on state government chatbots highlights their potential to optimize workloads, enhance communication and reduce waits. They're becoming essential, but challenges around feedback and privacy could impact that.

Hired this spring to lead his home state’s tech efforts, McCarville can boast of advanced degrees and deep private-sector experiences. He talks about why those factors are important in a post-NASCIO follow-up interview.