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House AI Report Offers Lawmakers a Policy Tool
The bipartisan House Task Force on Artificial Intelligence has
issued findings and recommendations in 15 areas including data privacy and
national security. Humans, it said, should be at the center of AI policy. READ
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2024 Cyber Review: Trump Re-Election Eclipses AI and Ransomware Stories 2024 was a year with growing ransomware attacks, accelerating use of artificial intelligence (for good and evil), more deepfakes in online fraud and election threats being overstated, but Donald Trump becoming president-elect (again) is the top 2024 cyber story. READ MORE
Ahead for EVs: Travel Centers, a Single Charging Standard A massive car-charging plaza is being developed in California, while Colorado is moving forward with a high-speed charging network. And the electric vehicle industry is gravitating toward a single charging standard. READ MORE
Alaska to Update Application Process for Permanent Dividend The Alaska Department of Revenue will work with Saige Consulting to modernize the Dividend Application Information System, by which qualifying residents receive their annual stipend. The new solution is expected in 2026. READ MORE
AWS to Invest $10B to Expand Ohio Data Center Infrastructure The company and the Ohio governor’s office announced the plan, which will enable Amazon to enlarge its data centers outside of central Ohio to new sites around the state. Locations of new data centers have not been finalized. READ MORE
Baltimore’s Plan to Address Chronic School Absenteeism As in much of the country, more kids are missing school in Baltimore, leading both city and state officials to propose new policies and early interventions. READ MORE
BEAD Program Director Addresses Its Progress and Future The Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program has seen significant advances in 2024, and its program director expects this path will continue in 2025 under a new presidential administration. READ MORE
Can Gov Tech Come to the Rescue of Patrol Car Inspections? Pre-shift inspections of police vehicles is a tedious but vital task that can impact officer and citizen safety. A new tool could make that process more efficient and more reliable — and could save money for cities. READ MORE
Cybersecurity Heads Up NASCIO’s 2025 Top 10 CIO Priorities Artificial intelligence may have been the topic on many minds this year, but cybersecurity and risk management topped NASCIO’s annual list of the top 10 priorities for state CIOs. AI did, however, rise to second Download a free eBook and learn about how to secure your company place this year. READ MORE
Days Draw Short for Governments to Obligate Pandemic Funds State and local agencies have until Dec. 31 to commit federal funds they received through the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund as part of the response to the pandemic. Anything not obligated must be returned. READ MORE
Drug Deaths in California Are Falling Fast For the first time in a decade, the state is seeing a sustained decline, mirroring national trends. After nine months of decreases, drug deaths in the state are down 17 percent this year. READ MORE
Ed Tech Confronts GenAI, Cybersecurity and Tech Use Issues Generative AI, cyber threats, TikTok and phone bans are some of the major issues that impacted ed tech in 2024. In the new year, school boards need to determine how to move forward. READ MORE
Florida
AI Broadcast System Unifies Disaster Communications The state recently launched BEACON,
driven by artificial intelligence and capable of transforming written emergency
updates into real-time, multilingual audio message broadcasts on multiple
platforms. READ
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Fraud in computer programming work A senior official in New York State Governor Kathy Hochul's administration warned state agency leaders about suspected fraud involving hourly computer programmers. Read more
Future of EV Policies at the Federal Level Is Unclear Officials from the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation offered measured hope and little guarantees during a recent discussion that the federal government would remain committed to advancing adoption of electric vehicles. READ MORE
How
AI, Security, Inclusion Redefined Government in 2024 In a pivotal year, governments enacted AI
laws, strengthened defenses, bridged the broadband gap, and prioritized
accessible, user-friendly digital services. As 2025 nears, most jurisdictions
still lack fully mature AI frameworks. READ
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How Jacksonville is Preserving Family Wealth in Majority-Black Neighborhoods A new program preserves home ownership for vulnerable residents who are at risk of property displacement through heirs’ properties. LEARN MORE
How
One City Cut Its Poverty Rate in Half Over
the past decade, Richmond, Va., has managed to cut its poverty rate by 45
percent. Many things broke right for the city, but a pair of mayors stuck with
a long-term plan to make it happen. READ
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How
Smart Governments Are Cutting Costs While Better Engaging Residents Your
boss will love you when you provide these cost-cutting solutions. Learn to
harness the power of digital government and its digital channels to engage
residents better and reduce bottom-line expenses. Download
Now
How
Vermont Uses Incentives to Treat Substance Use and Reduce Crime Chittenden County was seeing a rise in
homelessness, property crime and substance use. A new diversion program
provides an alternative to the status quo.
LEARN
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Innovative
Approaches to Modernization for Local Government Many local governments have an urgent
need to modernize technology systems and update manual business processes.
Modernization can support different priorities, including cybersecurity,
constituent experience, resilience, and data-driven decision-making. DOWNLOAD
Iowa
Can Become a Model for Property Tax Reduction Iowa has helped prompt other states to adopt
flat income tax rates. To bring down property taxes, the state has to address
local government spending. READ
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Is
foreign software running on your computer? Get a free I.T. security health report to
mitigate the risks of shadow I.T., nation-state attacks, and unpatched
vulnerabilities. Download
Now
James Weaver Leaving N.C. CIO Post for Private Sector The state CIO, who is also secretary of the North Carolina Department of Information Technology, will retire Dec. 31. State Attorney General Josh Stein, who was elected governor Nov. 5, has reportedly nominated a successor. READ MORE
Just Before Leaving Office, Washington Gov. Inslee Proposes $4B in Tax Hikes When Democrat Jay Inslee took office in 2013, the state’s two-year budget was $38.4 billion. Now, as he prepares to leave, he’s released a $78.8 billion spending plan. READ MORE
Kentucky CIO Ruth Day to Retire After Five Years in Role The state’s chief information officer will serve through Dec. 31, the state said in announcing her retirement. Gov. Andy Beshear picked her to lead the Commonwealth Office of Technology at the start of his first term. READ MORE
L.A.-Area Cyber Attack Could Impact 17M Patient Records The incident Dec. 1 downed computer and most phone systems at two hospitals in southeast Los Angeles County, and one in Los Angeles. Urgent care centers, doctors’ offices, and a home health and hospice agency were also compromised. READ MORE
Legislator’s
15-Year Quest to Build a New Law School Nears Fruition Texas state Rep. Armando Martinez has been
arguing for years that a law school would help the Rio Grande Valley economy
and reduce brain drain. Local colleges are finally working on a plan. READ
MORE
Make Redesigning Your Website Fast and Easy Ready to elevate your community's online presence? Download our comprehensive website redesign kit to get expert advice, tailored timelines, and scalable solutions for cities and counties of any size! Get My Checklist
Make
Tech Procurement Easy with These Proven Tips
This quick guide offers 5 practical tips to simplify government
technology procurement.
DOWNLOAD
Michigan
House Considers Moving More Workers Into Traditional Pensions A bill would allow more public employees to
shift out of 401(k)-style plans into more traditional pensions, which could
help with recruitment. But critics say costs are a reason the state has moved
away from such plans for decades. READ
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Missoula, Mont., Police Evaluating AI Report Software City officials have approved a request from Missoula police for 120 new Tasers and a bundle of add-on services, including AI software that writes up to 80 percent of police reports. READ MORE
Most
Reports Ordered by Legislature Go Missing
Many new laws passed by California contain requirements for progress
reports. This year, agencies have sent in such reports only 16 percent of the
time. READ
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Moving Courts to the Cloud Courts are inundated with tasks -- particularly in large jurisdictions and statewide systems that manage records across a wide geographic area. By migrating on-premises systems to the cloud and using software-as-a-service solutions, courts can simplify processes, improve security and performance, and enhance constituent services. DOWNLOAD
New Dallas County CIO Has
Considerable Area Experience
Justine Tran, recently named technology leader, served as deputy CIO for
the city of Dallas for nearly four years. She brings with her years of
technology work in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. READ
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Newsom to Double Number of State Jobs That Won’t Require College Degree California’s Democratic governor will also expand job training and credential programs to help more residents without degrees find work in the public sector. READ MORE
Ohio Considers Plan to Shut Poor-Performing Schools Automatically A bill would shut down public schools that are among the 5 percent worst performers, matching charter school standards. Critics say basing closures on percentages means schools would be lost every year. READ MORE
Outcome
in Georgia’s Closest House Race in Doubt Due to Botched Ballots The contest was decided by 48 votes, but
about 60 residents were given ballots for the wrong district. A judge may order
a new election. READ
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Philadelphia’s Return-to-Office Policy Puts Pressure on Private Employers Mayor Cherelle Parker has ordered city workers to show up at the office five days a week, leading more companies to follow suit. But hybrid work remains a new normal in many places. READ MORE
Prosecutor Removed by DeSantis Won Her Seat Back. Will He Let Her Stay? After being suspended by Florida’s governor in 2023, Orlando-area prosecutor Monique Worrell won re-election in November. But DeSantis’ replacement said he might not help her return. READ MORE
Remote workforces are a ticking time bomb! Download a free eBook and learn about how to secure your company's remote workforce. Check Your Device Now!
Report: California Employees Should All Get AI Training Artificial intelligence training should be mandatory for state employees to better prepare California for the anticipated growth of the new technology, a new report has recommended. READ MORE
Resolve to Be Resilient: Top Cyber Priorities for State and Local Government Now that November is behind us, let’s reflect on the important lessons from CISA’s Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience Month. This year’s theme — Resolve to be Resilient — reminded us that, as critical infrastructure, state and local agencies must prepare and invest now for the disruptions of tomorrow. More Information
San Diego Backtracks on Climate Change Requirements Two years ago, the city crafted heralded policies on requiring electrification of buildings and cars. This week, it softened restrictions significantly. READ MORE
State
and Local Govts Boost Accessibility in Digital Services This year, local and state governments
increased access to digital services for people with disabilities, in part due
to a new ruling from the DOJ. READ
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State of Oklahoma OMES Takes a Whole-of-State Approach Overseeing everything from state finances and human resources to property, real estate management and construction services, OMES is the backbone of Oklahoma. Spearheading a “whole-of-state” approach to essential services, OMES strives to increase efficiency, reduce financial and administrative overheads, and eliminate the duplication of effort, making it easier for the state’s agencies and affiliates to focus on their core missions. More Information
Stephanie
Dedmon, Tennessee’s CIO of Six Years, Will Retire Elevated to lead state technology in
October 2018, Dedmon is a nearly 20-year state staffer and former deputy CIO.
Her recent work has included guiding a refresh of the unemployment insurance
system. READ
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Strengthen
Your Multicloud Security Gain 100%
visibility into your cloud environment, eliminating blind spots and enabling
proactive risk reduction. LEARN
HOW
Strengthening
Multicloud Security in Government Learn
how a CNAPP empowers governments with visibility, automation, and Zero Trust
strategies to protect against evolving cloud security risks. DOWNLOAD
PAPER
Supporting Government in an Era of Digital Service Delivery Several recent initiatives from the Beeck Center are intended to assist the public sector in digital service delivery, including FormFest 2024 and the Digital Government Hub, an innovation-focused fellowship. READ MORE
Supreme
Court Ruling Could Help Blue States Resist Trump Policies The
Court's decision overturning the Chevron doctrine could affect everything from
fishing rules to transgender rights under Trump. It could also hamper red
states. READ
MORE
Texas Donor Pledges $20 Million to Create 'True Republican Majority' Panhandle businessman Alex Fairly, the father of an incoming state representative, was already a major GOP donor. Now he's funding a new group to support more conservative politicians. READ MORE
The Legacy of a Politician Who Never Wavered Vincent Fort served in the Georgia Senate for nearly three decades as a forceful, effective voice for “the least of these.” As he copes with cancer, it's important to acknowledge a vanishing breed of leader. READ MORE
The Potential, Pros and Cons of Atlanta’s New AI Commission The Georgia city is the latest local government to set up an AI study group, which could lead to municipal improvements. But before that happens, the commission might have to make it through several hurdles. READ MORE
The Reasons California’s Latino Voters Have Shifted Right Immigration is no longer the primary lens through which Latinos see the world. They are rapidly becoming more defined as economically populist voters, exasperated with the political failure to address their economic concerns. READ MORE
These Might Be the Good Old Days for Public Finance Taming of inflation was the year’s main financial story. Even if voters were upset about rising property taxes, governors, mayors, finance directors and pension pros may soon look back wistfully at 2024’s business-as-usual atmosphere. READ MORE
Tracy Barnes, Indiana CIO During COVID, Will Step Down After more than four years in his position as state CIO, Tracy Barnes is preparing for his January departure, when a new governor will take the reins from Gov. Eric Holcomb. Barnes has been with the state nearly a decade. READ MORE
Transforming Healthcare Access Learn how Covered California modernized its healthcare platform to provide faster, more reliable services for millions of residents. DOWNLOAD
Transforming Public Services New technologies and strategies are important for modernizing government services. But government workforces must also to new ways of working. This paper shares advice from top public sector leaders on navigating change, engaging stakeholders and fostering innovation. DOWNLOAD
Unlocking
Agility and Innovation with Modernization
By leveraging tools like artificial intelligence (AI), data
analytics and cloud computing, organizations can transform legacy systems and
build a foundation for future growth and public trust. Learn more about the
benefits of modernizing by downloading the full publication. DOWNLOAD
Urbana, Ill., Mulls Council Approval of Surveillance Tech An ordinance from two city aldermen would create an approval process for “policing surveillance technology and databases” as well as policy. The police chief has said he cannot support it as written. READ MORE
Using
AI for Public Sector Cybersecurity This
rapid roadmap details how AI strengthens security, outlines the major AI
security challenges and explains how you can measure your cyber progress. DOWNLOAD
West Virginia
Launching New Digital Driver’s License App The state DMV plans to make available a new
smartphone app that allows West Virginia residents to store driver’s licenses
and other identification credentials on their phones to verify their
identities. READ
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What to Expect for Ed Tech in 2025: Experts Weigh In According to several leaders of ed-tech companies and nonprofits, 2025 will bring a need for increased teacher and state-level leadership, better data, college modernization, and greater focus on the global ethics of AI. READ MORE
What’s
New in Digital Equity: Feds Fund Connectivity
Plus, North Carolina launched a new website to support digital
inclusion, Massachusetts is investing in connecting public housing properties,
CISA issued mobile communications guidance, and more. READ
MORE