Websites

The Colorado Department of Revenue has completed a project refreshing the state’s Sales and Use Tax System for an improved user experience. The work follows a mandate from state legislators in 2023.

The state of New York’s inaugural Chief Customer Experience Officer Tonya Webster was appointed to shape the method, style and efficiency of government interactions. This week, the state is reporting on its progress.

Completed in less than a year, the new state website combines 64 separate state sites into a unified digital destination with a smoothed search function. The Pennsylvania Office of Digital Experience led the effort.

Collaboration and partnership with other agencies was central to the redesign of the WaTech Service Catalog, to better understand the needs of state departments and deliver a more obtainable product.

The state announced its multiyear Colorado Digital Government Strategic Plan in 2022. Leaders continue bringing it to life, engaging residents and focusing on three key initiatives to offer a simple, secure, fast experience.

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.

In a move to enhance cybersecurity and digital services statewide, the Indiana Office of Technology is offering no-cost websites to all local governments, using its purchasing power with Tyler Technologies.

Carbon capture, no small matter in North Dakota, is also one of considerable discussion. A new state website that debuted last month is part of a $300,000 marketing and education program on carbon dioxide capture and storage.

Iowa Child Care Connect, a new website unveiled by state Gov. Kim Reynolds, comes out of a recommendation from a task force she created to look into improving the access to and affordability of child care.

The local government, the state’s fifth largest by population, has migrated to a new website with a “.gov” domain address. The protocol meets federal recommendations and has advanced security features.

The federal Department of Justice’s final rule in April updated the Americans with Disabilities Act, requiring accessibility for all government content. Here’s what that means for state and local entities.

Eric Goldman, associate dean of research at Santa Clara University School of Law, assesses concerns around the impending TikTok ban or buyout. It faces significant First Amendment challenges, he said.

A new mobile-responsive web page from the New York state Department of Environmental Conservation lets the public more easily report harmful algal blooms. Features include an updated map and reporting system.

The assessment and educational tool offers insights and solutions for improving government web performance. Based on its criteria, many state and federal agencies have updated their sites.

AskCOS, the city of Colorado Springs’ new artificial intelligence-enabled chatbot, was trained using Colorado city government information alone. The virtual assistant can answer constituent questions in 71 languages.

State data released one year after the launch of California vs. Hate, the hotline and online portal for reporting hate crimes and incidents, shows its impact. People statewide reported more than 1,000 acts of hate.

The state’s DMV Transformation Effort, commenced in late 2021 with a gradual rollout of online service offerings, may not end on schedule. A lack of staff availability is requiring extended outside support.

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.