State Government

Lawmakers are discussing a bill requiring public disclosure whenever political advertising with “deepfake” images, audio or video is distributed. Robocalls with simulated voices targeted more than 5,000 residents ahead of the presidential primary.

The Transportation Equity Index tool from the California Department of Transportation identifies key equity variables to aid in the evaluation of transportation projects. It's a web mapping application with several layers of data overlaid.

Oklahoma CIO Joe McIntosh explains how his agency is overhauling its core services and empowering staff to do their jobs to the fullest. Plus, he shares what he's working on as head of the state's AI task force.

Committee on House Administration Chairman Bryan Steil queried Nevada Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar on a state website malfunction. The site showed mail-in ballots had been submitted for the presidential primary when they hadn’t.

The tool is integrated into the state’s job and training hub, and offers users personalized services to connect them with a career path that aligns with their skill set. It follows legislative action by the governor to lessen unemployment numbers.

CIO Bob Osmond said prioritizing system modernization, financial optimization and infrastructure enhancement is essential to providing the best tech resources to agencies and residents.

A $445,650 grant from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency will pay for body-worn cameras and related tech for police in Meadville and Vernon Township. For the former, deployment will be April 1.

The department went live Monday with Frances Online, a claims processing solution replacing a COBOL-based legacy system. Officials acknowledged some callers have experienced long hold times but said the replacement is “working well” for most.

Some small-scale AI use cases are already underway. But in a webinar, “The Local Imperative: Policy and Use of AI,” state and local officials in North Carolina urged caution before employing the new technology in wider applications.

The legislation would create an Artificial Intelligence Task Force to convene technology experts and other stakeholders, and address areas of concern around AI. It’s expected to head to the governor’s desk this week for a signature.

Amendments to the Utah Social Media Regulation Act would allow lawsuits if it can be proven that “addictive social media algorithms” contributed to the worsening of a child’s mental health. Related laws have been stopped in two other states.

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposed state budget lacks funding for the Telework Compliance Office. The office’s future, and that of the telework data dashboard — a comprehensive picture of remote work at the state — are uncertain.

Federal agencies must transition to zero-trust cybersecurity postures by September of this year. Establishing a similar deadline for state and local agencies would spur action to lock down systems.

TR Sheehan, a longtime Wyoming executive serving for a second time as interim CIO, is working to understand what citizens need from their government and providing them with technology-based solutions to do just that.

With an executive order Thursday, Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee called for creation of an Artificial Intelligence Task Force and centers of excellence for AI and data. Goals include operational efficiencies and improved service delivery.

The bill would bar people under 16 from setting up accounts on most social media platforms. House Speaker Paul Renner and Gov. Ron DeSantis are collaborating to address the latter’s concerns, which include protecting parental rights.

States are allocating money from the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program toward training, multifactor authentication work and encouraging a move to .gov domains. But funding is currently set to run out in 2025.

The new hardware will replace a COBOL-based platform with a more responsive, secure solution from Fast Enterprises. It is expected to enable the Oregon Employment Department to quickly adapt to shifts in federal benefits.